Pres Mnangagwa appoints new Health Perm Sec

Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday appointed Dr Jasper Chimedza as the new substantive Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Dr Chimedza, a soldier by profession, holding the rank of Air Commodore in the Air Force of Zimbabwe, was until now the Director General of Health Services at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

He takes over from Dr Agnes Mahomva who was in May redeployed to the newly created post of Chief Coordinator to the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Since then, Dr Gibson Mhlanga has been acting as the permanent secretary.

“Dr Chimedza brings with him a wealth of experience to the Ministry of Health and Child Care in particular and the health services sector in general where he is expected to refocus the nation’s health delivery services in order to enhance innovation, integrity, transparency, efficient and vibrant stakeholder participation as the country fights the war against the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, announcing the appointment.

Dr Chimedza was attested into the army in 1996.

The appointment fills a huge void as the health ministry had gone for over a month without top leadership following the sacking of former health minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo early last month on abuse of office charges.

Professor Amon Murwira, the Minster for Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development is the acting health minister.
New Ziana