Mugabe visits Siamese twins, hails Zim doctors

President Robert Mugabe has hailed local doctors from Harare Central Hospital who performed the landmark surgery that successfully separated Siamese twins saying they have done the nation proud.

The miracle surgery that saw Tapiwanashe and Kupakwashe Chitiyo who had been born conjoined from the diaphragm to the abdomen and also sharing one liver has touched the hearts of many Zimbabweans including the President, Mugabe.

The twins were born on the 22nd of April this year.

Accompanied by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Mugabe visited Harare Children's Hospital to witness the miracle first hand and to congratulate the local doctors who managed to carry out the enormous feat.

On arrival at the hospital, Mugabe and Amai Mugabe were met by Health and Child Care Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa and other stakeholders in the health sector.

As the delegation made their way to the intensive care unit, President Mugabe took some time to greet parents who were waiting for their children to be attended to in the casualty area.

It was indeed an emotional moment as the President and Amai came face to face with the miracle twins who are recuperating in the intensive care unit and their parents Mr Moses Chitiyo and his wife Agnes.

Addressing members of the team that was led by Dr Bothwell Mbuvayesango during the major surgery that took close to eight hours on the 1st of July and other guests, President Mugabe, who is revered the world over as an orator and eloquent speaker, admitted that he was overwhelmed and words were failing him.

"Bad things have been said about the country all in the name of tarnishing the image of Zimbabwe and the surgery carried out here with limited resources, just goes to show that God the Almighty intervened.

"Some will choose not to believe what has been achieved by the local team of doctors because they think nothing good can come out of Zimbabwe yet even Zimbabweans who are in the Diaspora have demonstrated that Zimbabweans are excellent performers and always aim to do their best," said President Mugabe.

He assured health professionals that the government will strive to equip health institutions with modern equipment and ensure that salaries of health professionals are commensurate with the great job that they are doing, adding that even vacancies that have been frozen should be filled.

He said Zimbabweans should emulate the team work and unity of purpose exhibited by doctors who performed the miracle surgery.

Mugabe said the success of the operation that was carried out by Zimbabwean doctors also shows that the country has well educated and qualified medical personnel.

Mugabe then invited the whole team to State House where they will be honoured for their sterling job.

Mugabe lightened the mood by jokingly saying even the national soccer team which is failing to score goals has been to the State House, and so the team of doctors and supporting staff that has scored one of the most important goals any nation could wish for should also be accorded an opportunity to be honoured at the State House.

The Chitiyo twins, Tapiwanashe and Kupakwashe were also showered with various goods that include an assortment of baby clothes, two cartons of diapers, milk and blankets among other things.