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Yoliswa Dube Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO residents have applauded the Mpilo Central Hospital board for investigating corruption allegations that allegedly cost one of the country’s largest referral hospitals millions of dollars.

The chairperson of the hospital’s board, Sichelesile Moyo-Ncube last week announced that the chief executive officer Dr Lawrence Mantiziba, operations director Duduza Regina Moyo and chairperson of the central buying unit Mxolisi Sibanda had been suspended without pay for three months.

A fourth official who was not named but is suspected to be finance director Charles Govo, could not be suspended as he was not available to be served with his suspension letter.

Moyo-Ncube said an extensive audit would be carried out at the hospital during the period.

The Health Services Board (HSB) is set to decide the fate of the officials after the audit.

Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) chairperson Winos Dube said the move was welcome as it would restore sanity at the institution. “No one should stand in the way of investigations because we need to gain more clarity on the situation. We’re looking forward to sanity and order being restored at the institution. Let justice prevail,” said Dube

He said there was a need for the officials to be brought to book if found guilty, to allow for improvements to take place at the hospital.

Dube said Mpilo Central Hospital was not the only institution in the city suffering as a result of corruption.

“If we had boards like the one at Mpilo running other hospitals and institutions in the city, we would have the city up and running in no time. Sanity needs to be restored in all institutions that are meant to deliver quality services to the people,” he said.

Dube added: “Such investigations give members of the public and investors confidence in these institutions.”

The Bura chairperson said it was unfortunate that people entrusted to run such large institutions as Mpilo betrayed the trust invested in them. “These were people we trusted and they really let us down. If the Ministry (Health and Child Care) has seen the suspensions fit, we’re in support of the decision fully,” said Dube.

Sources at the hospital, who could not be named for professional reasons, said corruption was so rampant that at times the institution could not buy a syringe to inject a patient.

“This is a place where people should come to get well but it had turned into a place where people come to die.

“We thought the government was failing us through underfunding but recent revelations that the executives were allocating themselves up to 600 litres of fuel per month, have left us wondering how many more millions were misappropriated,” said an official.

Officials said the board should be applauded for not having sacred cows in their investigation.

“Such developments motivate us to work harder. I’m sure even investors would be proud to be associated with the hospital once it’s cleared of corruption. The suspended people should give their side of the story in a hearing for closure,” said another official.

The chairperson of the board Moyo-Ncube said the board was grateful to the health Ministry for taking prompt action on the issue. Mantiziba is being charged with failing to put up structures to prevent fraud at the institution while Moyo allegedly influenced tender procedures to prejudice the hospital of millions of dollars with Sibanda allegedly assisting her.

Allegations against finance director Charles Govo are that he ignored State Procurement Board requirements and paid suppliers who did not have Tax Clearances and company registration.

Appointed in October last year, the board has been credited with tackling corruption head on and achieving in less than nine months, what other boards failed to do in more than 30 years.

Corruption has always been whispered about at Mpilo Central Hospital but no action had been taken, until the arrival of the new board.

The board comprises Moyo-Ncube as chairperson, Siqokoqela Mphoko, Dr Goodness Msimanga, Hudson Hlabangana, Prince Kunaka and Nomathemba Ndiweni.