Courage Dutiro
There was heated debate during recent Masvingo City full council meeting over the naming of the newly constructed clinic in Runyararo West with councilors saying they were not comfortable with a name carrying political connotations.
Deputy Mayor Councilor Wellington Mahwende standing in for Mayor Collen Maboke and Chamber Secretary Vitalis Shonhai representing Town clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa who were not at the meeting had to refer the matter back to the responsible committee for further deliberations.
Ward 10 councilor Sengerayi Manyanga who had throughout the full Council meeting been boasting of attending Zanu PF national congress held in Harare recently said the name North West medical clinic is associated with the economic sanctions placed on Zimbabwe by the West.
“The name Northwest is not ok with me. We don’t want to be associated with anything to do with the West because of the sanctions.
“The name is associated with sanctions, let’s look for a better name,” said Manyanga.
Masvingo Urban Ward 7 Cllr Richard Musekiwa said councilors run the risk of politicizing council institutions because of this issue.
“I second the name that was given by the committee (North West Medical Clinic), we don’t want to politicize our institutions.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable when visiting the institution,” said Musekiwa.
His sentiments were echoed by ward 4 councillor Alec Tabe who said serious consideration was done before naming it Northwest.
“The name (Northwest) was reached at after serious deliberations by the committee and should stand. We must avoid referring back the issue to committee because it would lead to the clinic not being named at all and thus operating without a name at the end,” argued Tabe.
Ward 3 councilor Rockford Kamuzonda said council could name the institution after some influential people in the City.
“Let’s name the clinic after some people who are influential in the city or who contributed towards the development of the city or the ward.
“Maybe we may get donations towards the institution from those who are associated with the name,” said Kamuzonda.
Mahwende told councilors to revert the name issue to the responsible committee as he suggested naming it after liberation war heroes from Masvingo province.
“Let’s return the name issue to the committee. When you bring it back here next time, let it be with another name without politicization,” said Mahwende.
Among the names that were suggested by the health, housing and environmental services committee chaired by ward 9 councillor Against Chiteme before naming it Northwest Medical Clinic was Hlupeko which translates to Dambudzo in Shona.
The name however failed to pass through the committee deliberations.
According to the full council minutes on the health, housing and environmental services committee nine names were suggested after stakeholder engagement and management consultations.
“It was reported that after stakeholder engagement and management’s input, the following names were proposed; (a) Masvingo Poly Clinic (b) Dzimbabwe Poly Clinic (c) Hlupeko Poly Clinic (after his Excellency E.D Mnangagwa) (d) Runyararo West Clinic (e) Morris Clinic (after Tsunga Morris Mhangami the first black Town Clerk) (f) West end Clinic (g) Nyanda clinic (h) Northwest Medical Clinic and (i) Garikai Clinic.
“After some deliberations, the Committee unanimously agreed that the newly constructed Council Clinic be named Northwest Medical Clinic,” read part of the minutes.
