The nurses have been accused of inciting the violence that saw 12 Chiweshe residents being arrested. The protest was called over the removal of Dr. Paul Thistle, who was the chief doctor at the Hospital and a highly respected and greatly loved member of the community.
The Canadian born doctor has been in Zimbabwe for more than 16 years and had helped Howard Hospital become one of the most respected medical facilities in the country.
But it is understood that he recently ran afoul of the Salvation Army leadership in Zimbabwe after raising concerns about missing funding and materials meant for the Howard mission. These concerns have led to him being removed from the hospital, and last month he was given a 48 hour ultimatum to leave the country and return to his native Canada.
SW Radio Africa has been told that the doctor is refusing to leave Zimbabwe while the case against his colleagues is pursued. According to a source, the Salvation Army has tried on three separate occasions since his dismissal to get him and his family on a plane bound for Canada, but he has refused. There was no news about the results of Tuesday’s case by the end of the day.
Residents in Chiweshe meanwhile have told SW Radio Africa that they are planning to petition the government, urging intervention in getting Dr. Thistle returned to the hospital.
A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that the hospital is still not functioning properly, and there is general concern for the wellbeing of patients.
“Morale is very low. Things just aren’t the same and services are not as good as when Dr. Thistle was here. People are collecting signatures to give to the headman to give to the president’s office, because they want Dr. Thistle back,” the resident said.
Speculation remains rife about the real reasons for Dr. Thistle’s removal, with allegations that he is a victim of ZANU PF infighting. SW Radio Africa has been told that Joice Mujuru is a senior member of the Salvation Army in Zimbabwe and she has used her influence to have the doctor removed. This is believed to be in an effort to control the area where her rival Emmerson Mnangagwa has support. SW Radio Africa
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