Peter Tanyanyiwa
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Correspondent
CONSTRUCTION has begun on a large-scale maternity ward at Kuwadzana Extension Satellite Clinic in Ward 44, a development set to address longstanding maternal healthcare challenges that have forced expectant mothers to travel up to 15 kilometres for delivery.
The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership between the City of Harare, a Chinese organisation Tuzchi Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe Jiangsu International Construction as the main contractor.
The new maternity facility directly responds to a severe infrastructure deficit in the densely populated western suburb, where women in labour have historically faced journeys to distant hospitals, often without access to ambulance services.
“For the past years, many women were struggling to go to a certain hospital, which is far away,” said Kuwadzana Extension Health Centre Committee Chairperson Mr Bernard Gomani.
“But here, by the grace of God, we are placed here in Kuwadzana Extension. Soon and very soon, our maternity ward will be finishing in some few months.”
The facility, described by community leaders as a “five-star maternity ward,” will feature a dedicated theatre, administrative block, and comprehensive medical equipment. Construction is expected to be completed within six to eight months.
Community Impact and Government Support
Kuwadzana Ward 44 Councillor Adonia Shoko highlighted the transformative potential of the project for the wider community:
“This has been affecting women during birth times – they could walk a distance of about 10 to 15 kilometres, and we don’t even have an ambulance which will take you to those places,” Shoko explained.
“This is not happening for the benefit of me as a councillor, but this is going to benefit a very big constituency and will also help areas beyond my boundaries where there are no other maternity facilities.”
The councillor noted that the project includes not only the construction of the building but also interior furnishing and medical equipment, describing it as a “present to the community” with no cost to local residents.
Zimbabwe Jiangsu International Construction, the project contractor, brings substantial experience to the development. The company is affiliated with China Jiangsu Construction Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise with operations in over 20 countries. The group previously completed the 120-bed Bambao-Mtsanga Hospital in Comoros, demonstrating capabilities in healthcare facility construction and timely project delivery.
Alignment with National Health Strategy
The maternity ward expansion aligns with the City of Harare’s plan to achieve world-class primary healthcare services. The city currently operates 12 polyclinics, seven primary care clinics, and 15 satellite clinics across its health services network.
Zimbabwe has made progress in reducing maternal mortality ratios from 960 per 100,000 live births in 2011 to 462 in 2019, though rates remain above international targets. The country has also increased institutional deliveries from 65% in 2007–2011 to 86% in 2015–2019.
The new facility is expected to serve not only Ward 44 but also surrounding wards, potentially decongesting referral hospitals and improving overall quality of care across the health system.
“We appeal to the people of my ward, we have opened arms for you,” Councillor Shoko said, expressing optimism about the facility’s impact on the community.
The project stands as a model of effective collaboration between local government and international partners in addressing critical healthcare infrastructure needs in Zimbabwe’s growing urban areas.
Construction works are underway, with community leaders expressing gratitude for the development after years of waiting for improved maternal healthcare services in the area.
Online Reporter