Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE commissioning of a clinic in Mandihongola in Gwanda District has brought relief to the community, which previously had to travel 18km to access healthcare in Ntalale.
The clinic, which is set to benefit over 2 500 people, had stalled due to lack of funding before being adopted by the Gwanda Rural District Council in 2019, using devolution funds.
The new clinic will also serve villagers in neighbouring Matobo District.
Devolution funds have generally helped local authorities to meet their obligations to improve social amenities across the country.
Villagers welcomed the Second Republic’s development drive and the clinic’s commissioning, with Ms Priscillah Moyo from Mandihongola saying the new clinic marks the start of a huge development milestone for their community.
“The commissioning of this clinic has brought relief to our community. We have been travelling 18km to get to the nearest clinic in Ntalale,” she said.
“We have been using scotch carts or hiring vehicles to get to Ntalale Clinic and we were being charged R100. It was quite expensive for us to access healthcare services, but now the situation will change.”
Mr Bernard Ncube said the idea of establishing a clinic was first mooted in 2010 and only came into fruition following intervention by the Government through devolution funds.
“We are glad that as a community we haven’t been left behind in the Second Republic’s development drive. We have been given access to our basic right to health,” he said.
A village health worker, Ms Siphathisiwe Moyo, said it had been difficult to deliver effective healthcare services to the community, but the new clinic has reignited their hope.
Speaking at the commissioning event, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister, Dr Omphile Marupi, said the Government’s development drive can only be effective if there is input from all relevant stakeholders.
“The Government of Zimbabwe led by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa is disbursing devolution funds to local authorities for capital projects. Gwanda Rural District Council has responded very positively in the implementation,” he said.
“What we are witnessing today are the good results of funding from our Government, complemented by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).”
Dr Marupi lauded the local community for mobilising resources to start the construction process.
“The progress was slow, but I applaud such resilience and determination by the communities of this ward. This shows that the community has the zeal for projects that uplift its standard of living,” he said.
Dr Marupi said the Government has embarked on several development projects across all sectors in all provinces and districts of the country.
Upgrading infrastructure is in line with the National Development Strategy 1; a national five-year economic management masterplan, running from 2021 to 2025.
Under the devolution concept, five percent of fiscal disbursement from national Treasury is channelled to local authorities. — @DubeMatutu
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