Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
GWERU City Council has moved to upgrade lighting systems at its health facilities after a power outage at Mkoba Polyclinic forced nurses to deliver a baby under candlelight.
The incident, which occurred on the night of April 13, exposed serious gaps in the local authority’s ability to maintain essential services during power cuts.
Residents, civic leaders and councillors have therefore called on the council management to seriously consider investing in solar energy.
In an interview, Gweru City Council spokesperson, Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee, said the council is taking immediate steps to address the issue.
“We installed solar systems at our clinics but unfortunately, they are now malfunctioning. We have since engaged the suppliers to upgrade the systems.
“We also have solar lamps for all the clinics and a generator at the infectious diseases hospital,” she said.
Ms Chingwaramusee said drugs are safe, thanks to 48-hour cold storage systems in place.
The matter came under the spotlight during a Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) meeting, where the council’s health and housing committee chairperson, Councillor William Mazango, acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
“Staff at Mkoba Polyclinic had to use a candle to deliver a baby due to a blackout. The solar backup system donated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was not working at the time,” he said.
“After learning of the incident, I called for a full inquiry. We’ve since engaged UNDP and the installation team, but we are still waiting for feedback.”
Clr Mazango said the local authority has since purchased additional solar lighting units for all its clinics to prevent a recurrence.
“All council-run clinics benefited from the UNDP solar initiative, but we now recognise the need for a more sustainable and robust system,” he said.
Gweru deputy mayor, Councillor Nyaradzo Madzikura, described the incident as “unacceptable,” especially in a healthcare setting.
“Reliable lighting is essential to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. As female councillors, we are especially troubled by what happened at Mkoba Polyclinic. We plan to visit the clinic to assess the situation ourselves,” she said.
Residents have also expressed outrage over the incident and the decline in service delivery.
“It’s high time the local authority invested in reliable solar systems rather than depending on outdated donated equipment,” said Ms Precious Mwale.
GRRA director, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe, stressed the importance of proper lighting in healthcare settings.
“Lighting is crucial for accurate diagnosis, safe procedures and efficient staff performance. It also improves patient experience, especially in maternity wards and emergency care,” he said.
The council operates 10 healthcare facilities, including four polyclinics, five satellite clinics and one infectious diseases hospital.
