By Staff Reporter
MASVINGO – Masvingo City Council has commissioned a new maternity wing at Runyararo
Clinic in Ward 4 and unveiled a fleet of earth-moving equipment worth over US$1.2 million, a
move officials say will strengthen maternal healthcare and boost service delivery across the city.
The commissioning, which took place on July 14, 2026, also saw the unveiling of two service
vehicles and heavy machinery including a roller, grader, front-end loader, bulldozer, excavator,
and a tractor. The development is part of the council’s broader plan to establish maternity wings
at all its clinics, following the earlier commissioning of a similar facility at Northwest Clinic.
The 20-bed clinic has the capacity to deliver two expecting mothers at the same time, and that
would reduce referrals to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, who was the
guest of honor, said the completion of the maternity unit would strengthen quality maternal and
child healthcare services, while the earth-moving equipment would enhance the city’s capacity to
develop and maintain critical infrastructure.
“The completion of this maternity unit here at Runyararo Clinic will strengthen the delivery of
quality maternal and child healthcare services, while the commissioning of the earth-moving
equipment will enhance the City’s capacity to develop and maintain critical infrastructure that
supports sustainable socio-economic development and uplift service delivery standards,” said
Chadzamira.
He said the facility would cater for residents in Runyararo and Victoria Ranch among other
suburbs, who were previously forced to travel long distances to Northwest and Mucheke Clinics.
“The healthcare facility will cater for the residents of Runyararo and Victoria Ranch and other
adjacent suburbs who were being forced to travel long distances to the Northwest and Mucheke
Clinics. Therefore, the Runyararo Maternity Unit is fully aligned with the aspirations of the
National Development Strategy 2, which places great emphasis on strengthening the healthcare
delivery system, improving maternal and child health outcomes,” said Chadzamira.
in his address, Masvingo City Mayor Alec Tabe, detailed the financial breakdown of the
equipment, revealing that the strategic procurement represented a total capital injection of
US$1,247,120.52 into the city’s operational capacity.
He said the heavy engineering component, comprising an excavator, bulldozer, grader, and roller
compactor, represented an investment of US$1,134,120.52.
Two Toyota Hilux GD6 Single Cab vehicles were acquired at a total cost of US$76,000, while a
high-capacity tractor was valued at US$37,000.
“The acquisition of this state-of-the-art equipment is a powerful demonstration of this Council’s
unyielding determination to invest in modern, efficient machinery. Our primary objective is
clear: to drastically improve both the quality and execution speed of Council service delivery,”
said Tabe.
He said each asset had been strategically selected to fulfil critical roles, with the heavy yellow
machines playing a vital role in road construction, structural rehabilitation of existing roads,
storm water drainage works, and landfill development.
The two utility vehicles would enhance operational mobility for technical and supervisory teams,
enabling timely project monitoring, rapid site inspections, and emergency response.
He said the massive investment was made possible without overburdening ratepayers with
external debt, having been financed strictly through internal resource mobilisation using
Council’s Estate Funds and Parking Revenues.
“This demonstrates sound financial governance, strategic asset management, and the direct
reinvestment of Council revenue streams back into tangible, visible community developments,”
said Tabe.
Masvingo City Chamber Secretary Vitalis Shonhai, who was representing the Town Clerk,
Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa, said the government had set minimum service delivery
standards, prompting the council to procure the equipment to meet the call to action.
He said the equipment had been bought using estate funds and parking fees and urged residents
to continue paying for prepaid parking, saying their money was being put to good use.
“Residents should continue paying parking fees. Let us avoid that system where we conflict with
parking marshals refusing to pay because I think this is testament that that little money you pay
goes a long way in promoting service delivery. Some of the equipment will be used at the new
Cambria Farm landfill,” said Shonhai.
He emphasized that the council had saved US$1.2 million from estates and prepaid parking,
demonstrating that internal revenue streams could be effectively reinvested into tangible
community developments.
