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Obert Chifamba Manicaland Bureau Chief
GOVERNMENT will upgrade Chipinge District Hospital into a referral facility with state-of-the-art equipment and build additional clinics to boost the district’s health delivery service. Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said this last week when he officially announced President Emmerson Mnangagwa as Zanu-PF’s Presidential candidate in the July 30 harmonised elections to the people of Chipinge during a rally held at Chibuwe Centre in Musikavanhu constituency.
The rally was meant to drum up support for President Mnangagwa, as well as Zanu-PF candidates for parliamentary and council seats.
VP Chiwenga, who was accompanied by Zanu-PF deputy national commissar Cde Omega Hungwe, was welcomed by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, senior Government officials and traditional leaders.
Cde Chiwenga chronicled President Mnangagwa’s history during the liberation war and how the founding fathers of Zanu like the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole played a critical role in getting the liberation war going, earning Chipinge a special place in the history of Zimbabwe’s liberation war.
“Chipinge is a very important district to Zimbabwe and as such it must benefit from President Mnangagwa’s developmental plans that came with the new political dispensation,” he said. “This district has 314 000 registered voters that have the capacity to influence the outcome of any election, so we need to acknowledge your critical role by bringing development to you, too.”
VP Chiwenga revealed that Government would build a 40-bed ward at Zamchiya Clinic and a mortuary at Chibuwe Clinic as part of efforts to make health delivery more accessible.
“There will also be additional clinics at Beure, Mangazi and many other places that will be built quickly so that there is a change in health services,” he said. “Children under five and adults aged 65 and above will not pay for medical services. There will be free cancer screening and free blood for those in need of it.”
VP Chiwenga said President Mnangagwa had removed all obstacles to development and investment when he assumed the Presidency, which should benefit all corners of the country, especially his idea of devolution.
“Under devolution, we are going to allow provinces to be involved in the way resources under their jurisdiction are used,” he said. “There will no longer be Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs, but Ministers for Development.
“Manicaland will be entitled to processing the diamonds, timber and fruits that it produces and sell them as processed goods with more value,” he said. “They will get a part of their contribution to the GDP and not wait for Government.”
VP Chiwenga said roads in the district would be rehabilitated, boreholes sunk and many schools would have laboratories built to promote science education.
There would be more primary schools built, while satellite schools needed to be registered, said VP Chiwenga.
He said Government was introducing a Command Livestock programme and would also reopen Chipinge Dairy and introduce Command Fisheries as well.
Other Government programmes for the district include the establishment of a modern border post, starting more hydro-electricity projects and electrifying rural communities.
VP Chiwenga donated a total of 40 computers -20 each to Chibuwe and Rimbi schools..
Online Reporter