By Cephas Shava
Mwenezi Rural District Council (RDC) is working on the establishment of three clinics in the remotest part of the district where villagers are currently walking for more than 80 kilometers to the nearest health facilities.
The three already initiated projects which Mwenezi RDC has pledged to complete in 2025 include Patronella Clinic in ward 6, the Nikita- Mangena Clinic in ward 10 and Mateke Clinic in the distant Mwenezi’s ward 15.
Speaking to TellZim News, Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga said, the local authority had already started working on the three clinics targeting to open their doors before end of next year.
“So far we have got three Clinics which we are working on with the assistance of other stakeholders. These health facilities, where some structures had already been erected, are Mateke, Patronella and the Nikita-Mangena Clinic which is being constructed with the helping hand from the Bubi Valley Conservancy while the Zimbabwe National Army is providing man-power and other expertise,” said Chivanga.
The CEO acknowledged that villagers in concerned areas were walking long distances and said it was their hope that as soon as the Devolution funds and the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) are availed, nothing would stop the construction and completion of the facilities as they are at the top of the local authority’s key focus in the coming year.
Ward 15 councilor Timothy Magoche said the absence of health facilities in his area was costing lives and more needed to be done to expedite the construction of Mateke Clinic as villagers were walking abnormal distances to access health services.
“In my area some villagers go as far as Chikombedzi to get health services with some traveling distances of more than 70 kilometers to get to the nearest clinics. The situation is really bad for villagers and the establishment of a clinic is going to bring relief to villagers who had been in a fix for too long.
“We are however, impressed by the current council resolution which pledged to prioritize the completion of Mateke clinic in the coming year,” said Magoche.
Several Mateke villagers who spoke to TellZim News felt neglected by the government for too long, saying since their stay, more than two decades ago they have become accustomed to scarce of any social services like clinics, schools and roads.
