Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE is mobilising resources to build more 60-bed district hospitals as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system towards the attainment of universal health coverage by making sure every district has its hospital.
The district hospitals are part of an initiative by the Government to increase the number of health facilities across the country, particularly in remote areas.
District hospitals occupy a critical place in the referral system, taking patients from clinics, moving more complex cases to provincial and referral hospitals.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who is leading a fact-finding mission in Lusaka, Zambia, yesterday toured Chifubu Level 1 Hospital, an 80-bed facility and expressed satisfaction with the model, which Zimbabwe intends to adopt.
“This hospital is a complete package. It comes with laboratory and diagnostic equipment, fully-furnished wards, theatres, a mortuary, incinerator, kitchens and even digital hardware. It is fully off-grid, supported by backup generators and its own water supply system. We are impressed, and we believe Zimbabwe can replicate such a system, scaled to our needs,” he said.
Zimbabwe contracted NMS Infrastructure to build a network of health facilities, starting with eight mini-hospitals across the country. Four of these — Stoneridge in Harare, Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, Runyararo in Chimanimani and Mataga in Mberengwa – have already been commissioned and are operational.
The second batch, comprising Manhize in Chivhu, Rudhanda in Zaka, Lady Stanley in Bulilima and Paradza in Chivi South, is nearing completion.
This was done through a US$210 million investment by the Government of Zimbabwe.
Dr Mombeshora said the Government’s focus would now shift to constructing district-level facilities.
“We want to go up a level from clinics and mini-hospitals to district hospitals. While Zambia has an 80-bed model, we will build 60-bed hospitals to make them more sustainable for our environment. Funding is being finalised, and once secured, construction will begin by June 2026, with completion expected within 18 to 24 months,” he said.
Sites for the new hospitals have already been earmarked in Harare and Esigodini, with more expected to follow as part of the long-term national infrastructure development plan.
ThAe Minister said the mission to Zambia was crucial in guiding the next phase of Zimbabwe’s hospital expansion programme.
“We came to learn and see what is possible. NMS has proven it can deliver and we are confident that this partnership will continue to strengthen Zimbabwe’s health care delivery system,” he added.
The construction of district hospitals is expected to ease pressure on central hospitals and improve access to quality healthcare for communities across the country.
