A major disruption at Harare’s Avenues Clinic has shaken Zimbabwe’s private healthcare sector, following the abrupt closure of its radiology department—an essential service for emergency and diagnostic care. The shutdown, which occurred over the Heroes’ holiday weekend, has put critically ill patients at serious risk, drawing widespread concern and condemnation.
According to reports, security personnel—believed to be hired bouncers—entered the facility and forcibly removed members of the Baines Imaging Group (BIG), the long-time operator of radiology services at the hospital. The Avenues Clinic, which is run by Medical Investments Limited, claims the action was part of an arbitration process. However, BIG maintains the move was conducted without a valid court order and has described it as both “unlawful and dangerous.” The incident has been reported to Harare Central Police under case number IR181907.
The radiology unit, responsible for conducting emergency CT scans, X-rays, and other imaging procedures, was rendered non-operational for over five business days. BIG reported that patients were told the closure was for a “stock take and asset verification.” The group warned that the disruption posed an immediate risk to patient care, particularly during a public holiday when emergencies typically increase.
To mitigate the impact, BIG attempted to redirect services to its 52 Baines Medical Centre branch nearby. While the measure has provided some continuity, it is far from ideal. Patients now face logistical delays, increased transportation needs, and higher costs—burdens that many families are already struggling to manage.
This incident adds to the broader challenges facing Zimbabwe’s health sector. Years of economic instability have left public hospitals under-resourced and understaffed, driving many citizens to rely on private facilities. However, even these institutions are now showing signs of internal dysfunction. The timing of the radiology shutdown, coinciding with the busy Heroes’ holiday week, has raised serious alarms—especially given the uptick in road accidents, acute illnesses, and chronic medical emergencies during this period.
Advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, and media commentators are urging the Ministry of Health and Child Care to step in. Many have described the eviction of medical personnel and the interruption of vital diagnostic services as a breach of both patient rights and public safety. One health professional, speaking anonymously, labelled the actions “reckless and unacceptable.”
The Ministry has yet to issue an official response, but public pressure continues to grow, including a surge of concern across social media platforms.
The conflict stems from a disputed arbitration decision between Medical Investments Limited and BIG. According to BIG, no legally binding court order was in place when the eviction was carried out, raising questions about the legality and ethics of using private security to remove medical practitioners from a functioning clinical department.
Legal experts and health commentators alike are questioning whether healthcare services can or should be interrupted in the midst of a civil or corporate dispute. The use of force in a medical setting—particularly in the absence of judicial oversight—is unprecedented and could set a worrying precedent for future conflicts in Zimbabwe’s private healthcare landscape.
For decades, private institutions like Avenues Clinic have served as critical alternatives to Zimbabwe’s struggling public health system. Now, however, internal disputes and heavy-handed tactics risk undermining public trust in these facilities. Unless addressed swiftly and transparently, this episode could damage the credibility of the entire private health sector.
As the legal and regulatory processes unfold, one fundamental issue remains: patient access to life-saving diagnostic services should never be compromised by administrative or commercial power struggles. In any just system, health must come before profit or procedure.
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