The Salvation Army run hospital has been running a severely limited service since the resident chief doctor, Canadian born Dr. Paul Thistle, was forcibly dismissed earlier this month. The official line from the Salvation Army is that the doctor has been “reassigned” as part of the organisation’s internal processes.
A statement from the Canadian branch of the faith based charity group said a new Acting Hospital Administrator has been assigned and “is in place to guide the facility through this transition.” According to the statement “service will continue and be enhanced by significant, planned future investment in the hospital.”
“A team under the direction of International Headquarters will be heading as soon as possible to Howard Hospital to review and analyze this situation further,” the statement read, adding: “As the home territory for Captain Dr. Paul Thistle and Captain Pedrinah Thistle, the Salvation Army in Canada is working to ensure the safe return of the Thistle family.”
Dr. Thistle, his Zimbabwean born wife Pedrinah, and their two young sons,
remain in Zimbabwe, despite a 48 ultimatum to leave the country that was handed to him last week. The deadline, set by the Salvation Army’s Zimbabwean chief of mission came in the aftermath of public protests last week, which saw 12 people being arrested and eight Howard Mission nurses being interrogated. Dr. Thistle refused to leave, because he was concerned about his colleagues.
The chief of mission, Vinece Chigariro, then threatened the doctor with excommunication from the church if he did not follow her orders. But this has not forced him into leaving.
An old friend of Dr. Thistle’s, Canadian based Warren Viegas who has been in regular contact with the doctor, told SW Radio Africa that the chief concern is for the future of the hospital.
“The hospital for years has received financial support from various sources, including thousands of dollars that Paul has sourced himself. Frankly the support will stop because the friends of his here in Canada and his medical peers feel that the Salvation Army has thrown him under the bus,” Viegas said.
The doctor’s dismissal is understood to be related to concerns he raised about the fate of donated cash meant for the Chiweshe mission. It’s understood that thousands of dollars in cash and building materials has been plundered.
There is also speculation that the doctor, who has been a respected and loved member of the community for more than 16 years, is a victim of ZANU PF infighting. Vice President Joice Mujuru is a senior Salvation Army captain and it’s believed she is trying to control the hospital in order to control the area, where her rival Emmerson Mnangagwa is said to have support. – SW Radio Africa News
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