Stan Mudenge, Minister of Higher Education, seriously ill

July 8, 2010

Financial Gazette

8 July 2010

THE Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Stan Mudenge, is said to be seriously ill and recently suffered a heart failure. The Financial Gazette can reveal that the minister was admitted at the Avenues Clinic’s High Dependency Unit (HDU), in Harare for eight days after being diagnosed with cardiac failure and has not resumed duty.

He was discharged from the clinic on Saturday.

“Mudenge was admitted on June 25 at 11:01 hours after arriving in an ambulance under heavy security guard. He had suffered a cardiac failure and had to be quickly taken to the resuscitation room.

“After resuscitation, he was then taken to the HDU where he was admitted until last Saturday at 12:50hrs,” said the source at the clinic.

“Although he was discharged, it was evident that he still felt pain and I believe it will take time for him to get active in the office.”

Enquiries from his ministry confirmed Mudenge has not been in office for several weeks.
The minister’s failing health has seen students at institutions of higher learning calling on the inclusive government to consider resting Mudenge.

Tafadzwa Mugwadi, the president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union, said the unavailability of Mudenge was a cause for concern.

“He (Mudenge) has failed to attend to our plight because he is concentrating on his health issues and in the process he is underperforming in his ministry.

“We make a humble request to the government to consider resting the minister because they are overburdening him and it is not surprising that this burden could actually be contributing to his failing health.”

Student Solidarity Trust co-ordinator, Masimba Nyamanhindi, said Mudenge’s health impacted negatively on the smooth running of tertiary institutions.

“If one looks at how the Ministry of Education Sport and Culture is being run by (David) Coltart and how Mudenge is running his ministry, the conclusion is that Mudenge has   failed and his health is a major contributor.

“Since last year he has done nothing to address the issue of students’ accommodation, tuition fees and other basics,” said Nyamanhindi.