ZACH is a Not-for-Profit Faith-Based Organization (FBO), founded in 1973 and registered under the Revised Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Act of 2001 in 1974. ZACH is the Medical Arm of all Christian Churches in Zimbabwe. ZACH operations are conducted on strict ecumenism. The association is accountable to the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) regarding the running of church health institutions (mission Hospitals and Clinics). ZACH through mission health facilities provides 68% of health care delivery in rural Zimbabwe and approximately 45% nationally, based on bed capacity. ZACH represents the link between the Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) , the Ministry of Health and Child Cares (MOHCC), other health providers and agencies.
ZACH Membership currently stands at over 135 hospitals and clinics — comprising 78 hospitals, 22 designated district hospitals with nurse training schools, and 35 rural clinics — which are in all the 10 Provinces and 63 districts of the country and are within easy reach by communities. The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) are the owners of Church Hospitals and Clinics in Zimbabwe. The ZHOCD has four secretariats, namely – Zimbabwe Catholics Bishop Conference (ZCBC), The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) and the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe and Africa (UDACIZA). Within the Churches, there are Health Desks and Coordinators who are a link between ZACH and Mission hospitals on administrative issues.
The Council is representative of 135 hospitals and clinics which form the Annual General Meetings (AGM) who are member institutions (Hospitals and Clinics), these have voting powers to nominate members of the ZACH Management Board and the Board of Trustees for the ZACH Pension fund. The pension fund Chairperson is appointed by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations. ZACH is the Medical Arm of Churches in Zimbabwe, with the Executive Director as the Head supported by the ZACH Executive Members for the day-to-day operations of the organization. The ZACH Executive Director is appointed by the ZACH Management Board and the rest of the staff by the Executive Director with approval of the ZACH Management Board. Management of Mission Hospitals and Clinics is by owner churches through their governance structures. ZACH is a membership organization of Hospitals and clinics owned and run by those Churches. ZACH facilitates the smooth running of all hospitals and clinics through policy guidance, advocacy, and resource mobilization.
ZACH is ecumenical — it unites different Christian denominations. It is accountable to the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD). These church leaders are effectively owners of the mission hospitals/clinics.
ZACH has a Management Board and a Board of Trustees (for its pension fund). The Executive Director, appointed by the board, leads the secretariat. Dr Nonhlanhla Zwangobani currently serves as Executive Director, succeeding Mrs. Vuyelwa “Vee” Chitimbire, who led ZACH for 25 years.
ZACH’s role spans a lot of ground: policy, support, advocacy, operations.
