Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
THE construction of a new block of flats at Kwekwe General Hospital for doctors’ residence is yet to start almost a year after the doctor’s residence was razed by fire.
Fourteen families, among them doctors, a physiotherapist, nurses and an administrator lost property worth thousands of dollars after a fire suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault, gutted the block of flats last June.
Some of the affected families are accommodated by well-wishers while the hospital authorities are renting some apartments for the doctors in the residential areas, a situation not conducive for health care workers who are often on call.
The construction of the new block of flats is yet to start despite the fact that Government has already allocated money for the project.
The previous structure constructed in 1952 is irreparable hence the decision to construct a new three-storey block of flats with 24 units.
Midlands Provincial Public Works director, Engineer Abishoni Paradza said resources have not yet been released for work to start.
“I am not the right person to be commenting on this but all I know is that we are yet to receive the funding,” he said.
Mr Paradza said they have pulled down the old structure and cleared the area for construction to start.
“I raised the issue with the Ministry of Health and they promised to make a follow up. I know they are not the ones who release the funds but they are also worried by the delay,” said Eng Paradza.
Midlands Provincial Medical Director, Dr Marry Muchekeza declined to comment.
Engineers from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correction Service (ZPCS) and Kwekwe Polytechnic are expected to assist in the construction.
Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent Dr Patricia Mapanda is on record saying the institution was losing staff due to shortage of accommodation.
The institution has three houses for 13 doctors forcing staff to seek accommodation outside the hospital.
During his visit to the institution to assess the extent of the damage last year, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo announced that Government had allocated money for the construction of the block of flats.
Minister Moyo also expressed concern at the pace at which work was being carried out then.
“The pace with which you are moving is worrying. This is an emergency and we need to act accordingly. I want work done as soon as possible so that we can replace the building. We need to apply the build-back-better concept where we replace the affected building with a better one,” he said.
Construction of doctors accommodation at Mpilo Central Hospital which was also gutted by fire in May last year, has since been completed.
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