Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu & Mthabisi Tshuma, Zimpapers Writer
FIVE clinics are under construction in three different wards in Gwanda District driven by community initiatives with the local authority chipping in through development levies and technical support.
Dambashoko Clinic in Ward 2, Ntepe Clinic in Ward 14 and Mkhaliphe Clinic in Ward 20 are at slab level while Mawaza Clinic in Ward 12 is at window level with Tshanyaugwe Clinic at 90 percent completion.
The main clinic block has been completed while works to construct staff houses are underway.
Gwanda Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Ranganai Sibanda, said the construction of the clinics will help improve health care services in the district.
“We are working on five clinics whose construction was initiated by the respective communities. We have Dambashoko, Mawaza, Ntepe and Mkhalipe Clinic. We also have Tshanyaugwe, which started off as a community project but then we came in as council to assist through devolution funds,” he said.
“Now, we are using council funds to complete the project as we haven’t received devolution funds. This is the development strategy we have adopted where we allow communities to initiate development projects and then we come in as council and adopt these projects.”
Mr Sibanda said it was important for communities to initiate their own development, to ensure ownership and sustenance of projects. He said this was in line with President Mnangagwa’s philosophy: ‘ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’.
Mr Sibanda said once the communities initiate projects, the council comes in with additional resources, which are mainly from devolution funds.
The devolution funds have assisted local authorities in fulfilling their obligation of ensuring improved access to social amenities across the country through the development of key infrastructure such as clinics, classrooms roads and bridges.
Social amenities and infrastructure development are some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Mr Sibanda said apart from resources, council also offers technical advice during implementation of development projects.
He said devolution funds have helped speed up several community-initiated projects that had stalled in the district.
Chief Kgwatalala said the community started constructing Mawaza Clinic last year after it had stalled for two years.
“The community received the go-ahead to implement the project in 2021 but due to lack of resources, work could not start. Last year, as a community, we decided to mobilise the required resources to kick start the project,” he said.
Chief Kgwatalala said each household contributed R100 and a bag of cement and work to mould bricks started.
He said the diaspora community has so far contributed significantly towards the project.
“We are also appealing to well-wishers to partner us so that we complete the construction of this clinic,” he said.
Upon completion, the clinic will benefit five villages.
“We have some villagers who walk 15km to access healthcare services and the completion of this clinic will drastically reduce the distances travelled, said Chief Kgwatalala.
Meanwhile, Nyabane Clinic, a state-of the-art health facility has been completed in Bulilima district in Matabeleland South province and is set to boost communities’ access to quality health services.
The clinic is expected to open its doors to the public next month and was constructed through collaboration between the Nyabane Community, Diasporans, Bulilima Rural District Council (RDC), former Bulilima East Constituency legislator Nqobizitha Ndlovu, Bulilima Constituency legislator Cde Dingumuzi Phuti and the Church of Jesus of the Latter-Day Saints.
Early this year, the church poured in US$300 000 towards the completion of the clinic after the other parties had contributed towards the construction of the main structure.
Completed facilities include the main structure, three staff cottages and the second mother’s shelter.
Recently, a 10KVA solar system was installed at the clinic.
The Diaspora community has been contributing 100Rand each or Pula equivalent towards the project every month while the local community provided free labour such as fetching water, quarry, river or pit sand.
Nyabane Clinic is set to ease the pressure on Sikhathini Clinic, which is being overwhelmed by demand for its services.
Mr Mqondisi Realfire Mlilo, who is leading the committee spearheading the construction of the new clinic, attributed the success of the project to the unity between the community and its leadership.
“The Diaspora raised over R1 million towards the project and this enabled us to complete the construction of the clinic, staff houses and also putting up the fence to protect our property,” he said.
Bulilima RDC chief executive officer Mr Billiati Mulauzi said the clinic will be opened soon.
“Early this year, we received a boost from the Church of Jesus of the Latter-Day Saints, who gave us US$300 000 towards the completion of the clinic,” he said.
Mr Maluzi said the clinic was now ready for inspection by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Bulilima legislator and Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Cde Phuti applauded the Nyabane community for taking the initiative to improve their livelihoods.
“I would like to applaud the local community and our relatives in the diaspora, who came together to mobilise resources to build this state-of-the-art clinic,” he said.
