Chiwenga in court over Ngomahuru

Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Constantine Chiwenga has been dragged to court over a water crisis at Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital in Masvingo that has forced 200 inmates to take their bath from a nearby river.

An urgent High Court chamber application was filed by former Masvingo West MP Tichaona Mharadze at the High Court in Masvingo today to compel Chiwenga, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and ZESA to restore water at Ngomahuru without delay.

According to court papers, Ngomahuru has not had running water for the past one and half months and this is because ZINWA has no power from Zesa to pump the water. Nurses at the hospital have been taking patients to Makwangwadza River in one large group where they bath in full view of each other.

This is not only inhumane, according to the application but is putting the inmates at numerous risks including drowning and getting attacked by crocodiles. Villagers who use the same river for domestic purposes also complained about health risks from the arrangement.

Mharadze is being represented by Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri Legal Practitioners.