ZANU PF makes health screening mandatory for conference delegates

The screening includes blood pressure, blood glucose, prostate cancer and breast cancer tests and is being conducted by NetOne’s One Health in collaboration with ZimSmart Villages at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

Delegates must produce a card marked “Your Health Passport – Proof of Screening” to be accredited.

The card, seen by ZimLive, requires personal information including name, district of origin, date of birth and phone number.

Health workers record a positive result where a potential health concern is detected and a negative result where no concern is identified. Delegates who return a positive result are not barred from the conference but are advised to schedule a clinical assessment.

Two delegates who spoke to ZimLive after undergoing the tests said the exercise was fast and used modern equipment, but raised concerns about privacy.

“This is highly unusual and leaves one feeling a sense of unease. For whom is this data being collected, and what do they intend to use it for? These are highly personal tests. It should have been voluntary, in case others don’t mind,” said a delegate from Bulawayo.

A delegate from Mashonaland West Province, where the conference will be held, questioned the purpose of the data collection.

“Is someone collecting health information about their political rivals? What’s the purpose of this? Is it even legal?” he asked.

The annual conference programme begins with a Politburo meeting on Tuesday, followed by a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday in Harare. Proceedings will then move to Chinhoyi, where the conference is scheduled to end on Saturday.