Ngoni Dapira
IN what appears to be a response to the recent backlash by the Harare Residents Trust (HRT) over an earmarked partnership between the new ambulances services company Discovery Ambulance Services and City of Harare (CoH), its founder and chief executive officer, Mutare born entrepreneur, David Munowenyu last week Monday posted on his Facebook social media handle about his vision and aspirations of delivering modern and dependable emergency health services in Zimbabwe to help save lives.

David Munowenyu’s Facebook post.

In the post titled “My Prayer”, the youthful entrepreneur cum politician Munowenyu poured his heart out about his apolitical vision to help save lives through his ambulance services company.
“Access to timely emergency care must never be a privilege-It is a fundamental right. At Discovery Ambulance Services, we are humbled to play our part in advancing the national vision for a healthier, more resilient Zimbabwe. By investing in a modern rapid response fleet, we are not just building a business- we are building a lifeline for our people,” read the first paragraph of his post.

The week before, in a statement, HRT said it was against the plans by CoH to privatize public health services to improve health service delivery at its clinics. The Mayor of Harare Jacob Mafume in response to the statement by the residents trust during a full council meeting held that same week responded that the local authority was incapacitated in the case of ambulance services urging the residents trust and councilors not to politicize health issues.

“I don’t know what the ulterior motives are there, but the benefits of more ambulance are very clear to anyone. We as council have only two ambulances which are supposed to respond to a city of three million people. Someone is saying they have the capacity to give us 45 ambulances at the get go, which will be used to ferry our own residents. Do you want this council to come out on Tv (television) like we are doing now and say that I am arguing with our councillors about the benefits of more ambulances. You can’t be this cruel guys. You cannot be this insensitive and this cruel that you want to deny the residents of Harare ambulances and that I have to spend minutes arguing with councillors that we do not want ambulances,” fumed Mayor Mafume in a recorded video this publication is in possession of.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume

Adding, “We have a resolution that has been made by councillor Mande (Costa) seconded by councilor Bhingari (Jane). They will go and discuss in that meeting as they are discussing the memorandum of agreement on the benefits to council. If there are no benefits then it will not go forward…There is something wrong with this council. Pane mweya wapinda (there is an evil spirit that has come in here) I think,” he said.

Mayor Mafume said the proposal would sail through the full council resolutions but the health committee would sit and discuss on the modalities of how to implement the agreement in a manner that benefits the council.

According to economic experts no country can prosper without a healthy citizenry. In line with regional and global best practices, national health insurance can be publicly funded through a combination of sin taxes as well as sugar taxes to ensure primary healthcare to every citizen.

In his post Munowenyu further stated that his clarion call to venture into the emergency ambulance service premised on affordable health care was not only a business decision but a patriotic mission in service to improve the country’s vision for an efficient health delivery system.

“This is a patriotic mission rooted in service, compassion and committed to our nation’s wellbeing. From the most remote village to the busiest city, every Zimbabwean-regardless of status, background or geography- deserves assurance that help will come when it is needed most. May this work continue to honour our people, support our government’s health goals and uplift generations to come,” read the post.

David Munowenyu

The ambulance service that was launched early last year, a brainchild of David and his wife Chantelle, has entered the sector impactive with the vision of providing affordable emergency medical services in every corner of Zimbabwe, setting a new health paradigm.

During the launch Munowenyu said their decision to invest in the emergency medical services sector was mostly guided by the widening gap of affordability and accessibility of ambulances by the public, both in urban and rural areas, which is why they came up with their motto, “Every Life Matters, Every Second Counts.”

Munowenyu who had relocated to South Africa where he has other business interests in transport and logistics said he was inspired to come and invest back home by Prophet Eubert Angel who was appointed in March 2021 as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large. The ambassadorial role came with the responsibility for Prophet Angel to seek trade and investment opportunities for the country and also lure Zimbabweans in the diaspora to invest back home.

Prophet Eubert Angel and David Munowenyu (In white t-shirts) with the leader of the Zion Christian Church Bishop Dr. Nehemiah Mutendi (yellow cap) early last year.

During the launch he also thanked President Mnangagwa for his ‘Zimbabwe is open for business mantra’ that encouraged enterprising youths like him who were living abroad, but are now back home contributing meaningfully towards the growth of the country through investments also helping to create new jobs locally.

Through its affordable monthly subscriptions package like the US$5 Smart Save Plus package, Discovery Ambulance Services offers 24hours immediate ambulance service response. The package also offers immediate medical attention for stabilization before evacuation, unlimited 24hr medical advice and assistance, unlimited free BP checks, evacuation calls within a 40km radius, three evacuations per year, hospital Cash Plan at US$1500 for adults and US$900 for children per year, a pay out of US$100 for adults and US$60 for children per day spent in hospital on admission with a maximum of US$500 and US$300 respectively per event (T&C) as well as a funeral cash back of US$500 for both adults and children.

There are also subscription packages for US$10 and US$20. The services also extend coverage to additional dependents, including parents.

Munowenyu who was recognized among the top 100 Influential Young Africans for 2024 by the Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation is also the founder and president of the Dave Munos Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has been doing philanthropic works in Manicaland since 2018, including a chicken supplementary programme it introduced at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where it regularly donated chickens to supplement the protein diet for patients.

Currently the ambulance service is spearheading the Presidential Medical outreach programme countrywide giving free medical tests and medication for Blood Pressure (BP)and sugar diabetes as well as conducting free basic first aid training and certification.