Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Flees Hospital Bill Amidst Claims of Bankruptcy

By Staff Writer

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition leader Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai faces court charges after Trauma Centre and Hospital filed a police report against him yesterday May 28 after sneaking out of the institution in the morning without settling a US$2 600 bill, in Harare. 

The case was filed under docket number CR240, with the former Prime Minister in the inclusive Government facing charges under section 117 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act which criminalizes making off without payment.

This comes a few days after Mr Tsvangirai dismissed reports by Zimbabwe’s state media that he had been hospitalize owing to “mental and nervous breakdown.” via Facebook, stating that he was suffering from a minor illness that had forced him to miss a Sunday rally organized by his party in Harare

Mr Tsvangirai’s message on Facebook said: “I failed to attend the MDC Africa Day celebrations at Zimbabwe Grounds but I hear it was a blast. Because of illness, the doctor ordered me to take a rest,” he wrote

The report claimed the breakdown was caused by Mr Tsvangirai’s marital and political problems.

While his spokesperson Mr. Luke Tamborinyoka insisted that he was recuperating at home following the doctor’s instructions and not at a facility in Belgravia, hours before Tsvangirai took to his Facebook account.

A hospital official said they had also been struggling to get other senior MDC officials to pay bills dating back to the time of the inclusive Government.

Hospital authorities said a nurse helped Tsvangirai, who was discharged yesterday at around 10am escape via the laundry room, which is near the high-care unit that he was admitted to.

The nurse who has since been suspended pending disciplinary action also informed Tsvangirai that a police report had filed against him.

Mr. Tsvangirai’s sudden appearance in the laundry room caught the staff by surprise and he breezed past them, exited to the car park where a “getaway” vehicle was waiting, and sped off.

A report was made at Avondale Police Station, after party official Mrs. Theresa Makoni paid the bill pleading with the hospital management to withdraw charges against him.

An MDC official who went to the hospital upon Mr Tsvangirai’s discharge said they had failed to put together the money, prompting them to reach out to former Harare mayor Mr Muchadeyi Masunda for help.

“Mr Masunda was not reachable and somebody suggested that we sneak out and then pay the money later,” the MDC official said.

A hospital official told The Herald, “He (Mr Tsvangirai) was admitted on Saturday May 24 into the general wards and on Sunday May 25 we moved him to the high-care unit, where he was being treated for poisoning.

“We discharged him on Wednesday morning he was unable to pay the bill. A call was place to party treasurer and she told us that they had no money at the moment, but would pay later.

The police complaint was later withdrawn after lengthy negotiation between the hospital management and Tsvangirai’s MDC party officials.

Trauma Centre owner Dr. Vivek Solanki refused to comment on the matter citing doctor- patient confidentiality.

Mr Tsvangirai is believed to be financially broke in the wake of donor flight that followed loss to President Mugabe in last year’s harmonized elections

Sources close to former premier yesterday confirmed that Tsvangirai was broke.” He is broke and it is not a laughing matter considering the state of the economy. All is not well. As family we have since contributed money towards the settlement of the hospital bill,” said the relative.”

Not long ago, Tsvangirai was accused of splashing cash on a jet-set lifestyle which saw him take ocean cruises with his lovers.

It was reported that he paid off one, Ms. Lorcadia Karimatsanga Tembo a large sum of US$ 300000 to end their brief marriage, so as he could mend his previous marriage with Ms. Elizabeth Mucheka.

Tsvangirai has been selling off property at his Gabbari Farm, 33km outside Kwekwe near Nkavi.

A year ago, Gabbari Farm had 400 herds of cattle but the number have depleted to 90 with 100 herd sold in January-February 2014,” said Mr. Elliot Siwela a farm at the farm.

Mr, Tsvangirai was last year deserted by his wife of less than two years.

He has also been told to step down by his MDC party lieutenants who say he has failed to dispose President Robert Mugabe from power, even though he has remained very popular amongst the people of the southern Africa nation.