Zimbabwean lawmakers have called on the government to enact legislation prohibiting high-ranking officials from seeking medical treatment abroad. They argue that this measure would compel the government to prioritize the revitalization of the country’s struggling healthcare system.
The legislators aim to address the significant disparity between the healthcare accessible to the political elite and that available to the general population.
This call comes amidst a worsening healthcare crisis in Zimbabwe, exacerbated by recent aid reductions. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has ceased aid, aligning with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy. Additionally, the United Kingdom has announced the termination of UKAID funding, which previously supported healthcare for over two million Zimbabwean women and infants, effective 2027. These funding cuts have already negatively impacted Zimbabwe’s healthcare infrastructure.
Ropafadzo Makumire, Member of Parliament for Chiredzi Central, advocated for legislation that would require government officials and key leaders to receive medical treatment within Zimbabwe. He emphasized the urgent need to improve the nation’s failing healthcare system.
“Sometimes there is no clean water and electricity in hospitals where patients are treated. Some challenges are so small that they do not require large gatherings to resolve. We are in this situation because those who are responsible do not receive treatment from local hospitals,” Makumire stated.
“This August House has a responsibility to enact laws which will guide us, so I suggest that we enact laws which will require the executive and you, Honourable Speaker, to be treated locally until the issue of healthcare facilities has been fixed,” he added.
While many leaders seek medical treatment in countries like China and India, ordinary citizens endure inadequate care in underfunded public hospitals. Cancer patients, in particular, often resort to crowdfunding for treatment abroad due to the lack of screening and treatment facilities within Zimbabwe.
