Govt hits out at doctors over US funding row

The Government of Zimbabwe has criticised the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians (ZCPHP) for what it described as "out of order" conduct, accusing the medical body of violating professional propriety by publicly intervening in a high-level diplomatic dispute with the United States.

The rebuke follows a statement by ZCPHP expressing concern over the collapse of negotiations for a bilateral health funding agreement that would have granted the US extensive access to sensitive health data, including pathogen samples and epidemiological information concerning Zimbabwean citizens. The physicians warned that the breakdown could jeopardise the nation's efforts in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Deputy Chief Secretary for Presidential Communications, George Charamba, said the physicians had overstepped their professional remit by commenting on matters of national security and sovereignty. "What they have done is to introduciously pronounce themselves in respect of a matter which is beyond their knowledge base," Charamba said. "The issue at hand involves many other factors beyond just the physician's skills that they wield."

He expressed dismay that a professional body would use X (formerly Twitter), an American social media platform, to lobby the government on a sensitive matter involving the US administration. "Whose attention do they want to catch? Do they want us to then conclude that they were in fact beneficiaries of American funding through USAID?" he added.

Charamba stressed that the decision to channel the US response through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, rather than the Ministry of Health, signalled the gravity of the issue. "This was because the matter relates to the very sovereignty of this nation. If we wanted to name a technical matter, we would have done so through their parent ministry. That should have given them a cue in terms of the scope of the matter," he said.

He further advised the medical experts to confine their input to professional channels. "If they have anything constructive to give, they must do it through their parent ministry. Unfortunately, they have gone against the rules of propriety."

The Government reiterated that while health service delivery remains a priority, Zimbabwe will not compromise its independence or allow external actors to use aid as a tool for interference.