Kamuzu Central Hospital turmoil worsens after staff arrests

The wrangle between workers and management at Kamuzu Central Hospital has taken a new twist with staff now demanding the exit of the hospital’s Deputy Director Davis Mtotha following arrest of four members of staff on Monday.

The four members of staff of the referral hospital—Stella Warren, Simeon Lijeje, Nelson Msiska and Filipino Kaliati were arrested during protests on Monday morning .

The irate members of staff sealed offices of senior managers whom they want out of the institution for alleged mismanagement and abuse of office.

The workers on Tuesday downed tools and demanded explanation from senior Ministry of Health officials, who led by the Director of Clinical Services Dr Chithope Mwale, Director of Human Resources Management Dr Zimba Bondo and MoH Spokesperson Henry Chimbali, rushed to hospital.

The employees are also angry that after the ministry acted on their demand to remove unpopular managers, management has reacted by also transferring from the institution some members of staff.

The meeting, which The Daily Times attended, turned into a trial of the senior managers particularly Mtotha whom the staff alleged was behind the arrest of their colleagues.

Chimbali pledged that the ministry will treat the concerns and allegations with utmost seriousness.

“We were on a fact finding mission after holding discussions with management on the same issue. We have heard their grievances and we will investigate the allegations. However, we would like to state that the issue of arrests is not our mandate, only the police can fully explain what happened,” Chimbali said.

The four who were arrested in the morning were charged at Lilongwe Police Station with conduct likely to cause breach of peace and released on bail late in the afternoon.

“We were treated as criminals; we were bundled into the car. People now want the truth and reasons why this is happening at the hospital,” Warren said.