Gweru — A committee set up to raise funds for the rehabilitation and expansion of Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary has failed to start work after Zanu PF officials objected to its composition, The Standard has learnt.

The Midlands Governor Cephas Msipa, who was involved in setting up the committee, decided that it was prudent to co-opt Gweru mayor, Sesel Zvidzayi, as chairperson of the fund-raising committee, The Standard understands.

However, some ruling party provincial officials, keen to portray the project seen as a Zanu PF initiative, decided it was improper to have a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) member heading the committee. Zvidzayi belongs to Morgan Tsvangirai's faction of the MDC.

A government official speaking on condition he was not identified, said following the objections by Zanu PF officials, the MDC mayor was then made the deputy chairperson of the committee while Gweru businessperson, Enos Size was appointed the chairperson of the committee.

However, the committee is still to meet.

Asked for comment, the Midlands provincial medical director, Anderson Chimusoro, referred all questions to the Midlands governor who was not immediately available for comment yesterday.

However, Zvidzayi told The Standard that he was willing to direct all his energies to the project despite disagreements over his involvement.

"Unfortunately I cannot say much regarding the committee but I want to emphasise that I am ready and willing to work for the improvement of the mortuary and on anything else that benefits our residents," Zvidzayi said.

The Gweru provincial hospital mortuary has a capacity of 24 bodies but has over 60 bodies at any given time.