Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
Midlands Bureau
FOR years, villagers in Mberengwa District, Midlands Province, had to endure a long and costly journey to access basic healthcare.
From expectant mothers walking over 20 kilometres for maternity care, to families with sick children travelling more than an hour to reach the nearest doctor, access to quality health services was a daily struggle.
But last week marked a turning point after the Government officially commissioned the state-of-the-art Mataga Mini Hospital at Mataga Growth Point, a modern facility that promises to radically improve health outcomes for communities across five surrounding wards.
The development is more than just a building. It is a lifeline for thousands and a bold statement of intent by the Second Republic that no Zimbabwean, no matter how remote their location, should be left behind in the journey towards Vision 2030.
Before the mini-hospital was built, locals relied on Musume Mission Hospital, 23km away, or Mnene Mission Hospital, a daunting 67km afar.
Today, Mataga boasts a 20-bed facility equipped with maternity, prenatal and post-natal wards, paediatric care, a medical imaging unit with mobile X-ray machines and even a fully equipped theatre, all powered by sustainable solar energy.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the facility embodies President Mnangagwa’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
“The facility is a milestone achievement aligned with Vision 2030, ensuring that even rural communities access world-class health services such as maternity care, X-rays and scans, truly leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora added that the hospital is part of a larger Government programme to overhaul the country’s healthcare infrastructure, with four such facilities now complete.
“So we now have four completed mini hospitals of this magnitude in the country, with Harare and Bulawayo being the first beneficiaries. As the Government, we have established this one here in Mataga, which is a rural setup in Mberengwa District, translating to the President’s vision of leaving no place and no one behind,” he said.
“This mini hospital that we have commissioned today is equipped with modern-day machines and technology to improve health standards. There is a maternity ward and a stationed medical doctor to assist pregnant mothers and offer top-notch services.”
The Mataga Mini Hospital was constructed through a US$210 million partnership between the Government and NMS Infrastructure Ltd, a UK-based company specialising in medical infrastructure.
The project aligns with the National Health Strategy (2021-2025), which aims to improve health and wellness for all Zimbabweans through enhanced access, innovation and equity.
Each of the four mini-hospitals, including those in Runyararo (Chimanimani), Cowdray Park (Bulawayo) and Stoneridge (Harare South), is designed to operate independently with its own water reservoirs, staff accommodation and brick incinerators for medical waste disposal.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube said the new health facility is a cornerstone of rural transformation.
“Since the inception of the New Dispensation on November 24, 2017, bold and strategic policy decisions have been adopted in pursuit of inclusive innovation, modernisation and industrialisation of the economy,” he said.
“In this regard, the Midlands Province is a proud beneficiary of His Excellency the President’s people-centric, results-oriented, and listening leadership, and the Second Republic’s desire to leapfrog the economy, transform the livelihoods of communities and bridge service delivery gaps between rural and urban centres.”
Chief Ngungumbane said the hospital marks the beginning of a new era.
“Healthcare delivery in Mberengwa will never be the same again. This facility is a blessing, especially for pregnant women and children who bore the brunt of poor access in the past,” he said.
The provision of quality healthcare is a crucial element in achieving Vision 2030, and the commissioning of the mini-hospital aligns with President Mnangagwa’s vision of matching best international practices.
Addressing the Zanu-PF Politburo’s 384th Ordinary Session in Harare last week, President Mnangagwa said the Government has now started comprehensively addressing challenges in the country’s health delivery system and other essential social services.
