MBERENGWA - Chaos erupted at Mnene Mission Hospital last week as John Shamhu, a war veterans leader in Mberengwa district, blocked NetOne officials from selling sim cards to hospital staff, accusing them of being MDC supporters.
NetOne, a government-owned mobile phone company, has embarked on a programme to sell sim cards to the rural community at low prices, especially in schools, hospitals and at growth points. However, chaos erupted when Shamhu and a group of Zanu (PF) youths barred nurses, doctors and other general hand workers from buying the product accusing them of being MDC supporters. The sim cards were being sold for US$4 each.
Shamhu came to the mission accompanied by about 20 Zanu (PF) youths singing revolutionary songs and ordered NetOne officials to stop selling sim cards to us. He claims that NetOne belongs to Zanu (PF) and all workers here belong to MDC therefore they should not get sim cards, said one nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another worker said: Shamhu went to the extent of calling for meetings with all hospital staff where he warned us that as long us we continue supporting MDC he will block any government assistance to the hospital. Meanwhile some Zanu PF officials in Mudavanhu area in the same Mberengwa district have taken over a government initiated programme to feed HIV/AIDS orphans saying the orphans should join the partys youth wing first.
Post published in: News