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Writes Elvis Dumba
Chitomborwizi – A couple from Chitomborwizi, Makonde District in Mashonaland West Province, based in the United Kingdom, has joined hands with the local people in constructing a clinic for locals currently traveling at least 12 km to access primary healthcare services.
Gloria Munetsi who hails from here but is now based in the United Kingdom, and her husband, are financing the construction of Chitomborwizi Clinic with support from other diaspora friends in partnership with the local people, and Makonde Rural District Council which has availed the land for the project.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo, hailed the initiative that she said demonstrates the people’s willingness to contribute to national development.
During a belated groundbreaking ceremony at the project site where the clinic is at roof level in Chitomborwizi, Hon Chombo said the initiative fulfills the government’s thrust of availing affordable health care services to communities.
“I am delighted that the district has embarked on an irreversible journey towards the attainment of Vision 2030, whose head driver is His Excellency, President Dr E.D Mnangagwa, whose thrust is to bring services closer to the people, thereby improving the lives of the citizens. As stated by His Excellency President Dr E D Mnangagwa in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023, ‘The realization of affordable quality health delivery, as outlined under the Sustainable Development Goal 3 is a key deliverable for the Government of Zimbabwe,” she said.
Hon Chombo said the construction of the clinic augurs well with the government’s agenda of leaving no place or person behind and said the government is currently seized with rehabilitation of health centres and constructing new ones across the country.
“The Second Republic has been working around the clock to upgrade existing hospitals and clinics and building new ones as it expands and upgrades the essential health infrastructure across the ground. This project directly feeds into that national objective and aspiration. It cannot be understated that pregnant women, the elderly, and children had a difficult time walking long distances of more than 12 km to access health services. This is indeed a turning point for the community. Chitomborwizi clinic will definitely change the face of the Ward and the District at large,” she said
Honorable Chombo said the country is proud to have patriotic people like the Munetsis who have embraced and acted on President’s Mnangagwa call for community development by its own people.
“I am glad that Makonde RDC has partnered with one of our children, Mr and Mrs Munetsi who are based in the United Kingdom. People like them are an asset to our country as they always remember where they came from. I am informed that the benefactors have also managed to source room loading equipment and other resources for the clinic from other Zimbabweans in the diaspora and we would like to say thank you very much for this life-changing gesture.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would not have done justice if I failed to acknowledge Makonde Rural District Council for availing the land on which the clinic is being constructed and providing technical expertise in the construction itself,” she said.
Makonde Rural District Council Chairman, Misheck Nyarubero, said the local authority is appreciative of the eagerness of its residents who are hands-on in accelerating development projects in communities, and described the construction of the clinic as a step in the right direction that needs to be emulated by progressive residents.
Makonde Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Paradzai Munyede described the project as one of a key private-public partnership being undertaken by the local authority.
“This is one of our key projects under private-public partnership and as a council, we are pleased with the progress on the clinic construction which we believe will be completed within the first quarter of the year 2024,” he said.
Speaking to this publication, Munetsi said she was inspired to plough back into the community after realizing the challenges faced by the elderly and pregnant women in the area to access primary healthcare services.
“I have an elderly mother and I know the health challenges such people face and I imagined how the community copes in accessing health services at a place where they have to travel a long distance and just imagine a sick person or a pregnant woman traveling long distance for basic health care,” she said.
Munetsi said using social conversations, she managed to mobilise the locals to join hands on the construction of the clinic where the community is availing locally available resources such as river sand and bricks.
“I am happy that the community embraced the project which they are supporting and I have managed to mobilise from other Zimbabweans an ambulance and other medical equipment to furnish the clinic,” she said.
87-year-old Maria Bushu, a local villager, said they are looking forward to the completion of the clinic as they are currently having difficulties in accessing health services and regular health checks as the current clinic is far from them.
“We just await the time this clinic will start to work as we are traveling for a long distance for a clinic,” she said
Zvimba West Constituency legislator, Hon Mercy Dinha, who is also the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labor, and Social Welfare, said the unity demonstrated by the community needs everyone’s support in ensuring the timeous completion of the clinic and she pledged to support the project.
“I want to thank the people of Chitomborwizi for demonstrating such community development ownership which needs to be supported and I will ensure that all necessary support for the project will be availed,” she said.