(b) a Government medical officer unless he is qualified in accordance with subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a); (c) an assistant health officer unless he is qualified in accordance with subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) and possesses a qualification referred to in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a). [Subsection amended by section 31 of Act 28 of 2004] 6 Local authorities in rural areas (1) Where no local authority exists for the whole or part of a district, the district administrator, acting under the instructions of the Chief Health Officer shall be regarded for the purposes of this Act as the local authority for that area and may, subject to subsection (2), exercise any powers which a local authority may exercise in terms of this Act. (2) A district administrator acting in terms of subsection (1) may not— (a) make any permanent appointment; or (b) incur any capital expenditure; without the express approval of the Minister. 7 Local authorities to appoint medical officers of health (1) Every local authority may, and when required by the Minister, after consultation with the appropriate Minister, shall, appoint a medical practitioner as medical officer of health to the local authority, whose appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Minister. (2) In the making of such appointment, preference shall be given, except in special circumstances in particular cases, to medical practitioners holding degrees, diplomas or certificates in public health or state medicine granted after examination and registrable in Zimbabwe as well as in the country where they were obtained. 8 Duties of medical officers to local authorities Every medical officer of health to a local authority shall keep himself informed as to the public health and sanitary circumstances of his district, and shall make such inspections and inquiries as may be necessary for this purpose. In addition, he shall furnish the local authority with all information in respect of such inspections and inquiries, and shall also furnish to the Chief Health Officer special reports, when required, relating to the public health or sanitation of his district. 9 Government medical officers to be medical officers of health in rural districts In any area where no medical officer of health to a local authority has been appointed, a Government medical officer designated by the Secretary by statutory instrument shall be the medical officer of health for the area specified in such notice and shall carry out the duties imposed by section eight on a medical officer of health, furnishing the information referred to in that section to the Chief Health Officer. 10 Local authority to appoint health inspectors Every local authority may, and when required by the Minister, after consultation with the appropriate Minister, shall appoint one or more competent hea lth inspectors to assist in carrying out the provisions of this Act within its district, who shall be subject to the supervision of the medical officer of health. 11 Removal of medical officers and health inspectors No medical officer or health inspector appointed by a local authority may, except with his own consent, or in conformity with any enactment relating to retirement on account of age or ill-health, or contract governing his appointment, be removed from office, or have his salary or his emoluments reduced, without the sanction of the Minister first being obtained: Provided that it shall be competent for a local authority to suspend a medical officer of health or health inspector for incapacity, neglect or misconduct, pending the sanction of the Minister as to dismissal; and in the event of such sanction being granted, the said medical officer or health inspector shall be deemed to have been removed from office from the date of such suspension. 12 Local authority failing to appoint medical officer of health or health inspector (1) If any local authority fails to appoint a medical officer of health or health inspector within six months a fter being required to do so by the Minister, the Minister may appoint a medical officer of health or health inspector, as the case may be, to the local authority, and may fix the remuneration to be paid by the local authority to such officer or inspector; and may, in case of default of payment of such remuneration by the local authority, direct that the same be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and that the amount be recovered by deduction from any subsidy or other moneys payable out of the said fund to such local authority. (2) Where the Minister appoints, in terms of subsection (1), a Government employee to b e a medical officer of health or health inspector, as the case may be, to a local authority, he may— (a) fix the remuneration to be paid to the State in respect of such appointment; (b) in the case of default of payment of such remuneration by the local authority, direct that the amount be recovered by reduction from any subsidy or other moneys payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to such local authority.