COMMUNITY Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director Itai Rusike believes the countrys health system is in a state of decay. In order to solve the crisis, Rusike (IR) believes it is time that President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-visits his 2018 elections manifesto and fulfils his promises. Below are excerpts of Rusike (IR)’s interview with NewsDay (ND) Midlands reporter Brenna Matendere: ND: Can you take us through the work that your organisation does? IR: CWGH is a network of national membership-based civil society and community-based organisations that aim to collectively enhance community participation in health in Zimbabwe. It was formed in early 1998 to take up health issues of common concern and giving visibility to community processes on health in Zimbabwe. The organisation networks 35 national member organisations that represent various social groups across the country. The CWGH is currently operating in 40 districts of Zimbabwe. The CWGH network, in existence for more than twenty years now, has grown more informed and deeply rooted in the community and is now an important national people’s voice on health concerns. Over the years, it has positioned itself as a vocal advocate for equity, primary health care and public participation in health. These are all national policy goals, but have become increasingly marginalised by the market-driven economic reforms of the 1990s, exacerbated by the harsh economic environment of the new dispensation. The CWGH is a pressure point for public policy to reflect the health rights and social values that are widely held by the Zimbabwean populace ND: Which areas have you covered so far and what is your broader vision? IR: The CWGH has consistently engaged with stakeholders and the government to make primary health care (PHC) a more central policy principle, we have strengthened community participation structures such as health centre committees (HCCs) and boards and committees at district and national level to organise public efforts to achieve this principle. We support communities in their health literacy work and support their actions to revitalise PHC from the bottom up. People generally use public sector clinics as the primary source of health care, making it important for public and social accountability in the health delivery system. CWGH initiated a programme of work that enhanced information and networking on health issues at local level in 40 districts under our health literacy programme. We have been supporting community level meetings between health care providers and communities to promote and exchange dialogue at local level on promotion, prevention and management of health problems, and to strengthen informed participation in local health planning. The CWGH activities through HCCs aimed to shift participation in health from mobilisation for compliance with centrally defined programmes to mechanisms through which communities can shape their health systems and make services more responsive to their interests. Since 1998 the CWGH working with the Parliame