Investors shortlisted for Ekusileni
A TOTAL of nine prospective investors have been shortlisted to run Ekusileni Hospital as the Government steps up efforts to re-open the institution.
Two months ago, the Government flighted a tender to find private investors to run the Bulawayo hospital as a specialist medical institution.
The breakthrough follows the Ministry of Health and Child Care decision last year to constitute a committee chaired by Matabeleland North provincial medical director Dr Nyasha Masuka which was tasked to identify a partner.
Dr Masuka yesterday said the committee had shortlisted investors which will be submitted to the Ministry for consideration.
“There is some progress with regards to Ekusileni Hospital.
“We have shortlisted a total of nine prospective investors and we’ll soon be submitting their names to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“We flighted a tender in June for interested private players to run the hospital as a specialist medical centre,” said Dr Masuka.
He said once the investor has been identified, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed to guide them in terms of operations at the hospital.
Dr Masuka said the committee agreed that Ekusileni would be a national specialist hospital to avoid duplication of services with existing hospitals in Bulawayo.
He said the committee was already discussing with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to make sure that the hospital is ready for occupation when an investor is identified.
“We want Ekusileni to be a centre of excellence. This is what we have emphasised to our potential investors. We already have general hospitals and we don’t want duplication of services.
“There’s also some work that needs to be finished off at the hospital.
“The occupancy of the hospital will depend on how soon this work is completed. The work includes finishing off the kitchen, theatre and the incinerator for waste management.
“The hospital also doesn’t have a mortuary,” said Dr Masuka.
Last month, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Prisca Mupfumira, expressed optimism on the re-opening of the specialist hospital, saying efforts were being made to ensure that the hospital opens its doors to the public.
She said her Ministry and the Ministry of Health and Child Care would soon be negotiating with potential investors in preparation for the opening of the hospital which was the brainchild of the late nationalist and Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
The Government took over Ekusileni Hospital, which was built by NSSA, in 2001 and was subsequently shut down after it was discovered that the acquired equipment, worth millions of dollars, was obsolete. — @pamelashumba1 PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday conferred National Hero status on Cde George Rutanhire who died at Karanda Mission Hospital on Saturday. He was 68. Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo confirmed the decision last night.
“Cde Rutanhire has been unanimously declared national hero,” said Cde Chombo.
“We are discussing with the family to find a suitable day for burial. That is the only thing outstanding and the media will be advised in due course on burial dates.”
Zanu-PF yesterday described Cde George Rutanhire as a reliable man who led from the front and never boasted about his role in the liberation struggle.
In a statement last night, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the party was saddened by the loss of Cde Rutanhire, who headed the Chitepo Ideological School.
“The revolutionary Zanu-PF party has learnt with shock and dismay of the untimely death of Cde George Rutanhire who passed on at the weekend at Karanda Mission Hospital in Mt Darwin.
“Cde Rutanhire was a tested cadre and courageous leader of the liberation struggle in all respect. He never boasted about his role in the liberation struggle.
“He remained a man of enviable simplicity, humble, focused, hardworking, approachable, reliable and always led from the front,” he said.
Cde Khaya Moyo said Cde Rutanhire’s death was a loss to the family and the nation at large.
“His family is now without a beacon, Zimbabwe has been robbed of an astute war veteran and mankind is now poor by his unexpected departure.
“We will all miss this great personality. In wishing his family strength and staying power, may his soul anchor and rest in eternal peace,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
Mashonaland Central, Cde Rutanhire’s home province, had written to Zanu-PF Secretary of Administration Cde Chombo recommending that he be declared a national hero. The recommendation was bolstered by the Ministry of Welfare Services for War veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees, which made a similar request.
By last night, mourners gathered at Cde Rutanhire’s Tizora Farm were still waiting for communication regading his hero status.
Mashonaland Central Minister of State Advocate Martin Dinha, who was accompanied by members of the provincial Joint Operations Command, visited Cde Rutanhire’s Tizora Farm to pay his condolences.
In his remarks, Adv Dinha recounted Cde Rutanhire’s illustrious political career and how he saved him from the jaws of death after he stopped him from eating poisoned food at a funeral in Mt Darwin.
“It is our view that Cde Rutanhire should be declared a national hero,” he said.
“His contribution to this country is invaluable and as a province we have made our recommendation and it is now up to the Politburo and the President to consider it. Cde Rutanhire is a gallant son who fought for the liberation of this country. We all remember the great work that he did at Chibondo to ensure that some of our fallen heroes got decent burial. He was part of the team that authored the Mgagao Declaration that confirmed President Mugabe as leader of Zanu dismissing Ndabaningi Sithole as a sellout.”
Adv Dinha urged the Rutanhire family to take comfort from the great work that Cde Rutanhire did for his country.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for the Welfare of Veterans, Ex Detainees and War Collaborators Retired Brigadier General Walter Tapfumaneyi said: “Cde Rutanhire is a very senior member from the days of the liberation struggle. He has a very strong history and we are urging the party leadership to consider declaring him a national hero. We were assisting him as a Ministry and we had plans of taking him outside the country to receive treatment but he was thinking otherwise. We learnt of his latest condition a bit late.”
Cde Rutanhire was born Peter Clever Musanhu on 15 April 1949 at St Albert’s Hospital.
He started revolutionary politics at St Albert’s Mission in 1965 and in 1966 he was involved in a student strike — boycotting lessons protesting the attack of the seven revolutionary cadres in Chinhoyi.
He joined the liberation struggle in 1972 and received military training at Mgagao in Tanzania.
In 1973 he was recalled from the war front after he was shot in the leg and at one point he represented the party in Sweden where he met Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Cde Mayor Urimbo, Amai Sally Mugabe and Zanu representative in Sweden Cde Cloudious Chokwenda.
In 1975 Cde Rutanhire was called back to Mgagao by General Josiah Magama Tongogara to join others to reorganise the war after the death of Cde Herbert Chitepo.
In June the same year to September, he participated in the crafting of the Mgagao Declaration together with Cdes Rex Nhongo, Constantine Chiwenga, Perence Shiri, Mernad Muzariri and Paradzai Zimondi.
At independence in 1980 he was elected Member of Parliament for Mashonaland Central Province and in 1981 he was appointed Deputy Minister for Youths, Sports and Recreation. In 1981 he was elected member of Central Committee and in 1985 he was elected Government chief whip. On 1987 he participated in the talks that led to the signing of the Unity Accord.
In 2010 Cde Rutanhire was appointed Politburo member, a position that he held until his death.
He is survived by three wives Susan Rutanhire, Safire Kutyauripo and Sofia Ishemunyoro and eight children.