Kwekwe doctors’ residence construction begins

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
The Government has started preparatory work to construct a new block of flats for Kwekwe General Hospital doctors whose accommodation was destroyed by fire last month.

An electrical fault caused the fire at the residence, which has since been decommissioned and will be replaced by a three-storey building.

Doctors lost property worth thousands of dollars and the building which was constructed in 1952, was completelty destroyed.

Midlands Provincial Public Works Director, Engineer Abhishoni Paradza said workers were finishing the demolition of the existing structure.

“We are now finishing the demolition of the existing structure with the hope of commencing the construction of a three-storey block of flats with 24 units soon,” said Eng Paradza.

He said designs and bill of quantities were being finalised adding the structure is expected to be completed within eight months.

“We hope by the time we complete the demolition, the designs will be out and Government would have also released the funds. We want to complete the construction as fast as possible so that our doctors have decent accommodation,” said Eng Paradza.

Engineers from other stakeholders like the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correction Service (ZPCS) and Kwekwe Polytechnic are expected to play a key role in the construction.

The development will come as good news to the institution which is facing accommodation challenges.

Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent Dr Patricia Mapanda is on record saying the institution was losing staff due to shortage of accommodation.

The institution only has three houses for about 10 doctors.

Meanwhile, donations for the affected families continue to pour in with the recent ones coming from Ok Zimbabwe and the Civil Protection Unit.

The CPU handed over food hampers to the affected families while OK Zimbabwe chipped in with vouchers worth $50 000 for each family.

Government has since released a $1,5million relief fund for the doctors.