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RELIGIOUS organisations should complement efforts by Government to provide social services such as schools and hospitals in rural areas so as to narrow the gap in the provision of those services between urban and rural areas, a senior government official has said. In a speech delivered on her behalf by Makoni Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Edward Pise, at the occasion to mark the groundbreaking ceremony of Dope Rural Health Center, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, said the initiative by the Methodist Revival Church International (MRCI) to construct the institution was a noble one.
“Government is promoting public private partnerships, not in the establishments of industries, but in other sectors such as social services sector. Religious organisations must team up with the government to develop schools and clinics in rural communities. We should all remain resolute in our effort transform our rural communities.
“We want to thank the Methodist Revival Church International for responding positively to government’s call to participate in rural development. Other churches should emulate what this church has done. The clinic we are having a groundbreaking ceremony was first mooted in 1983, but nothing came to fruition until MRCI came to our rescue,” said Cde Chimene.
The MRCI was formed last year under the leadership of Bishop Rodgers Kativhu.
Bishop Kativhu warmed up to a request by the Dope community to build a clinic because it values a spiritually and physically healthy rural community. He said such projects great a positive impact on communities. Bishop Kativhu said the MRCI was not domiciled in urban areas as is the case with most new churches.
“The main aim of MRCI is to embark on projects which have a positive and lasting impact on the communities. The church is there to positively change the lives of people through provision of health and education facilities. The church is not only there to preach the Word of God, but to take lead in the development of communities it preaches the gospel.
“This clinic will serve over 10 000 people who were travelling for 12km to access health care and we hear that many have lost their lives on their way to faraway health centres,” said Bishop Kativhu.
Online Reporter