Senior nurse in tribalism storm
A SISTER-IN-CHARGE at Beitbridge District Hospital has been suspended following the leaking of an audio where she insinuated that Venda people were the dumbest and uncultured tribe which is just good at voting Zanu-PF.
Ms Senzeni Klassen, was suspended from duty on Friday last week pending further investigations into the matter.
Hospital authorities had to give in to pressure from residents who were baying for her blood following the leaked audio filled with obscene language and fanning tribalism.
In the audio, Ms Klassen who is reported to be a close ally to the losing MDC Alliance candidate for Beitbridge East constituency Ms Patricia Ndlovu, allegedly said the Venda tribe had one of the dumbest people who are good as farm labourers, uneducated, and promiscuous.
She also chastised the Venda elderly people in the rural areas for voting Zanu-PF and President Mnangagwa.
The nurse, according to the audio, also insulted the local residents and the MP-elect with unprintable words.
Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Dr Chipo Chikodzore said the matter was under investigation pending further action.
“Yes, I confirm receiving a report to that effect. Investigations are underway pending further determinations which will be communicated at a later stage,” she said.
However, Ms Klassen whose whereabouts are unknown, said she had nothing to do with the controversial audio.
“I have no capacity to record such an audio and I don’t even own a smartphone. You will also note that I have relatives in all the political parties and it won’t be wise for me to insult them,” she said.
Since the beginning of last week, residents in the town have been calling on hospital authorities to transfer the nurse from the hospital.
They said she was too emotional and a danger to the community considering that she was a senior official at the hospital which is a referral centre for more 120 00 people mostly from the surrounding rural areas.
“She is a senior civil servant who is expected to administer health services in the same community with people she is insulting. It is sad that she chose to use obscene language, insulting and denigrating.
“How does one execute her duties professionally towards a community she hates that much?
“If a Government worker goes on to talk ill about the VhaVenda community she serves, what more happens behind scenes which we are not privy to?
“If the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Government want to retain her then she must be transferred somewhere. From the audio it is not in doubt that she is in pain to accept the people’s choice and voice as encouraged by the President of the Republic.
“The lady is a threat to any community which will not toe her party affiliation,” said a Beitbridge resident, Mr Jabulani Makhado.