via Gweru snubs Drs for health director post – NewZimbabwe 14/02/2016
GWERU City Council has started scouting for a substantive director of health services but has excluded medical doctors for the post, Newzimbabwe.com has established.
In the last few weeks, council interviewed candidates for the posts of engineering and housing directors with that of health services expected to be filled by end of February.
The local authority stated in its advert for the post (health director) that the desired qualifications were public and or environmental health. The minimum qualifications required are a diploma or degree in the two fields with at least 10 years of experience in a senior managerial position.
A Masters’ degree in public health is mentioned as an added advantage.
Most residents had expected council to recruit a medical doctor for the post-a move they felt would add value to city’s efforts to improve health service delivery.
Before the post was advertised, chairperson of the commission running the council affairs, Tsunga Mhangami, hinted that medical doctors might not be desirable since the local authority does not run a big health institution.
Residents associations expressed shock saying a medical doctor was necessary for such an important role.
The municipality operates clinics in the city’ residential areas with major health cases referred to government run, Gweru Provincial Hospital.
Gweru started recruiting for substantial departmental heads six months after Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere gave the directive. Last July, Kasukuwere ordered the council to recruit substantive heads of departments within 10 days after it emerged the municipality was manned by only two substantive heads.
During his visit to the city early last month, Kasukuwere ordered Mhangami’s team to move with speed in recruiting substantive heads of departments.
“We can’t continue having acting directors running council affairs. It is unacceptable,” Kasukuwere said then.
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