TellZim reporter
Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) is set to commission the recently completed Bwanya Clinic in ward 3 with the community saying they can no longer wait to access services from the health centre as there was no other clinic in the area.
This was revealed at a breakfast meeting organized by TellZim News in partnership with Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) between local leadership and the local authority.
Chivi RDC chairperson Godfrey Mukungunugwa said they want to put more pressure to the authorities so that the clinic is opened as soon as possible to avoid vandalism and theft of infrastructure.
“We were urged by President Mnangagwa to do 80 percent development and 20 or less politics. So we need to apply pressure to the authorities so that the clinic is opened next month because if we fail, termites will eat away the doors and thieves can also vandalise and steal solar panels and or vandalise other materials,” said Mukungunugwa.
He promised to do his best saying the local authority was equally worried by the delays in the opening of the clinic which is set to benefit the entire ward with 22 villages.
Chivi RDC Human Resource and Administration officer Archbald Ncube said all the necessary applications were done and were just waiting for the green light from the responsible authorities to open the facility.
“The clinic has to be opened as a matter of urgency, all registration procedures were done, the issue of manpower was applied for to the responsible ministry and it is our hope that we get feedback soon that is why we are having this meeting here to see how we can prepare for the day,” said Ncube.
He went on to urge the community to continue playing a role to make sure they continue working together until the clinic is officially opened.
“All the necessary work has been done but the yard has shrubs and stones which need to be cleared. And it is your (community) duty. Our engineers will be here grading roads, so we need your cooperation,” added Ncube.
Muzvidziwa village head Charles Muzvidziwa said the community cannot wait anymore for the commissioning saying a number of pregnant women were delivering in scotch-carts on their way to Madamombe clinic which is more than 15km away from the area.
“Work is being done in homes and we want our women to deliver here than going to Madamombe with some delivering on the road,” said Muzvidziwa.
The clinic has been completed and there is running water as well as solar powered energy while staff houses and toilets as well as the incinerator are in place hence only awaits commissioning.
Ward three councillor Lazarus Mauto appreciated the contribution of the community towards the completion of the clinic and said he hopes the unity remains there for sake of future projects.
The clinic was constructed by Chivi RDC using devolution funds with the community providing labour.
