By A Correspondent- Under fire Health Ministry official Portia Manangazira reportedly facilitated the recruitment of 28 family members to be community health workers, NewsDay reports.

Manangazira who is the principal director of epidemiology and disease control was yesterday arrested after it emerged she abused her office by authorizing the procurement of goods amounting to US$280 529 without following due process.

It is the state’s case that:

Manangazira requested for funding to recruit and train voluntary community workers to assist in raising awareness on COVID-19.

An allocation of US$796 675 was availed by the Africa Centre for Disease Control through the African Field Epidemiology Network,a non-governmental organisation to fund the line items and services meant to be used at training workshops for 800 community health workers.

The health workers were paid US$600 each for a period of three months and preliminary investigations revealed that 28 of the recruits were related to Manangazira.

Furthermore, Manangazira is being accused of identifying community health workers without involving relevant authorities:

It is also alleged that between July 2020 and last month, she identified 1 000 health community workers meant to be deployed throughout the country on a COVID-19 awareness campaign, without involving provincial and district medical directors and officers.

Manangazira will appear in court for bail hearing today.-newsday