Committees

A council’s practice control committee

• (1) A council’s practice control committee shall consist of—
  • (a) the chairman of the council, who shall be chairman of the committee; and
  • (b) at least eight persons appointed by the council, of whom:
    • (i) the majority shall be members of the council; and
    • (ii) at least three shall be members of the Health Service designated by the Secretary of the Ministry responsible for health; and [Subparagraph substituted by section 29 of Act 28 of 2004]
    • (iii) one shall be a registered legal practitioner of at least five years’ standing
• (2) Members of a council’s practice control committee referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) shall serve for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be fixed in each case by the council at the time of their appointment: Provided that—
  • (i) any such member shall be eligible for re-appointment;
  • (ii) the council may, without assigning reasons, require any such member to retire from the practice control committee if at any time the council considers it necessary or desirable for him to do so.
• (3) If at a meeting of a practice control committee the chairman is absent, the members present shall elect one of their number to preside at the meeting.
• (4) A majority of members shall form a quorum at a meeting of a practice control committee
• (5) All acts, matters or things authorised or required to be done by a practice control committee shall be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of the practice control committee at which a quorum is present.
• (6) At all meetings of a practice control committee, each member shall have one vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.
• (7) Subject to this section, a practice control committee shall meet and regulate its business as it thinks fit.
• (8) For the purpose of carrying out its functions, a practice control committee shall have power
  • (a) if it is reasonably necessary for the detection of any offence in terms of Part XVII or XVIII, to investigate or cause an investigation of any health institution at all reasonable times; and
  • (b) for the purposes of an investigation in terms of paragraph (a), to employ the services of inspectors appointed in terms of section twenty-six, who may exercise any of their powers in terms of that section; and
  • (c) to call for a report, whether on oath or otherwise, from any registered person in respect of any matter arising from the exercise of its functions
• (9) Any person who hinders, obstructs or makes any false representation to a practice control committee or any inspector employed by it shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. [Subsection amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001]

• (1) A council’s disciplinary committee shall consist of:
  • (a) the chairman of the council, who shall be chairman of the committee: Provided that, if in any particular case the chairman of the council considers that he should not be chairman of the committee, he shall appoint another member of the council to be the chairman for that particular case; and
  • (b) not less than two and not more than four other persons who shall be—
    • (i) specially appointed to the committee for the particular inquiry by the chairman of the council in consultation with the council’s executive committee; and
    • (ii) either members of the council concerned or registered on the same register as the person in respect of whom the inquiry is to be held: Provided that at least one of the persons so appointed shall be registered on the same register as the person in respect of whom the inquiry is to be held.
• (2) If a registered legal practitioner is a member of the council concerned, he shall be present at any inquiry held by a disciplinary committee in order to advise the committee on matters of law, procedure and evidence: Provided that, if the legal practitioner is unable to be present at an inquiry or if there is no legal practitioner on the council, the chairman of the council, in consultation with the executive committee or with such members thereof as he is able to consult in the time available, shall appoint some other registered legal practitioner to be present at the inquiry to advise on matters of law, procedure and evidence.
• (3) At any meeting of a disciplinary committee, the chairman and two other members shall form a quorum
• (4) All acts, matters or things authorised or required to be done by a disciplinary committee shall be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of the disciplinary committee at which a quorum is present.
• (5) At all meetings of a disciplinary committee, each member present shall have one vote on any question before the disciplinary committee and, in the event of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.
• (6) Except as otherwise expressly provided in Part XIX, a disciplinary committee may regulate its procedure in such manner as it thinks fit.
• (7) Whenever an executive committee refers a matter to a disciplinary committee, the secretary of the council concerned shall advise the Minister of the reference, specifying the person who is the subject of the inquiry concerned and the nature of the complaint.
• (8) Whenever a disciplinary committee has completed an inquiry, the secretary of the council concerned shall advise the Minister of the result of the inquiry and of the action, if any, taken by the disciplinary committee.

• (1) On the establishment of an education committee in terms of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 67, a council—
  • (a) shall appoint to that committee at least one member of the council, who shall be the chairman of the committee; and
  • (b) may appoint to that committee persons who are not members of the council.
• (2) Subject to any general directions given to it by the council concerned, the functions of an education committee shall be
  • (a) to supervise the education and training of such classes of health practitioners as the council may specify; and
  • (b) to advise the council on any matter concerning the education or training of the classes of health practitioners referred to in paragraph (a); and
  • (c) to satisfy itself and the council that in every teaching institution the curricula for the education and training of the classes of health practitioners referred to in paragraph (a) are such that graduates will have sufficient basic knowledge to practise their profession or calling; and
  • (d) to satisfy itself and the council that the education and training given to persons training to become health practitioners of the classes referred to in paragraph (a), and the facilities provided to enable them to gain experience in their profession or calling, are appropriate and adequate; and
  • (e) to perform such other functions relating to the education and training of the classes of health practitioners referred to in paragraph (a) as may be vested in the committee by the council.
• (3) For the purpose of carrying out its functions, an education committee may, subject to the general direction and guidance of the council concerned—
  • (a) visit any university, hospital or other institution or premises where instruction is given to or examinations conducted for students who intend to apply for registration as health practitioners of a class referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (2); and
  • (b) observe and monitor any instruction or examinations such as are referred to in paragraph (a); and
  • (c) on behalf of the council, engage the services of inspectors appointed in terms of section twenty-six to perform any function referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); and
  • (d) to submit full written reports to the council on the courses and curricula followed at and examinations conducted by any university, hospital or other institution or premises where instruction is given to or examinations are held for students who intend to apply for registration as health practitioners of a class referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (2).

1) A council’s Business and Finance Committee shall consist of:
(a) the chairman of the council, who shall be chairman of the committee: Provided that, if in any particular case the chairman of the council considers that he should not be chairman of the committee, he shall appoint another member of the council to be the chairman for that particular case; and
(b) not less than two and not more than four other persons from council members.

The Business & Finance Committee develops and recommends to the Council in the areas of finance, human resources, and the administration of business affairs between the Council and other parties. After the annual budget has been approved, the Business & Finance Committee is responsible for monitoring and recommending modifications to the budget. All action of the Business & Finance Committee is subject to board members approval. The Business & Finance Committee is chaired by the board chairman .

1) A council’s Human Resource Committee shall consist of:
(a) the chairman of the council, who shall be chairman of the committee: Provided that, if in any particular case the chairman of the council considers that he should not be chairman of the committee, he shall appoint another member of the council to be the chairman for that particular case; and
(b) not less than two and not more than four other persons from council members.

The Human resources Committe ’s purpose is to assist the Board and management in development and oversight
of compensation and human resources strategies and policies.

The Committee shall conduct an annual review of the Human Resources strategy.
The Committee shall evaluate the Annual Review of Staff Compensation.
The Committee shall periodically review the effectiveness and alignment to business needs of the
Council s Human Resources policies related in particular to:
(a) Strategic staffing, including staff skills, recruitment, deployment and development;
(b) Diversity;
(c) Terms of employment;
(d) Compensation and benefits;
(e) Performance management, rewards and recognition;
(f) Staff knowledge and learning;
(g) Organizational design, including decentralization strategies;
(h) Staff health and safety; and
(i) Managerial accountability.

1) A council’s Audit Committee shall consist of:
(a) the chairman of the council, who shall be chairman of the committee: Provided that, if in any particular case the chairman of the council considers that he should not be chairman of the committee, he shall appoint another member of the council to be the chairman for that particular case; and
(b) not less than two and not more than four other persons from council members.

Audit Committee is in charge of overseeing financial reporting and disclosure.The objectives of the Committee are to review the adequacy and effectiveness of the actions taken by the various parties and to assist the Board in its oversight of:
a) the integrity of the Council’s financial statements;
b) the internal and external auditor qualifications and independence;
c) the performance of the Council’s internal audit function and external auditor;
d) the effectiveness of internal controls;
e) the Council’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and
f) the identification of the material risks that may affect the Council and the implementation of
appropriate measures to manage such risks

The Health Professions Authority (HPA) of Zimbabwe is a health professions regulatory body which was established following the repealing of the Medical, Dental and Allied Professions Act (Chapter 27:08) and the disbandment of the Health Professions Council (HPC) on 30 June 2001.

The Health Professions Authority was created in terms of the provisions of Section 4 of the new Health Professions Act (Chapter 27:19) which came into effect on 2nd April 2001.  The Health Professions Authority commenced operations on 1st July 2001.

The first Authority comprised of members appointed by the Minister of Health and Child Care and ran from 15 February 2002. Subsequent Authorities have been elected in accordance with the Health Professions Act. Past Presidents are Mr Abram Harid, Dr Gordon L. Bango and Dr Phineas S. Makurira. Dr Obadiah Moyo was Acting President for a period of time. The third Authority ran from 17th November 2010 to 30th June 2015 under the presidency of Professor Innocent Gangaidzo. The fourth term ran from the 1st July 2015 to 30th June 2020 under the presidency of Dr Adolf Macheka.

Current Authority

The current Authority came on board on the 30th of July 2020 and will serve until 31st July 2025. The Authority members were inaugurated on 26th October 2020 by the Honourable Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Gen. (Rtd.) Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga ‘G.C.Z.M’. The new Authority is headed by Mr Ranganai Mubvumbi.