Chronicle Editor
Wilbrought Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
VILLAGERS from Ratanyana in Matobo District have started constructing a R1,4 million clinic that is funded by members of the community who are in the diaspora.
In an interview ward four councillor, Mxolisi Ncube revealed that the idea to construct a clinic came as a result of the long-distance villagers had to travel to access health services.
The nearest clinic is 12 kilometres away.
“We do have clinics but from where we are, it is about 12km to the clinic, so Ratanyana Village is in the middle and there are about five villages around here that access health services there so that is what really motivated us and we then decided to come together as the community. Most people who are pumping in some funds are in the diaspora. They are doing a good job in terms of mobilising resources and funds.
“When we calculated the funds needed it was about R1,3 million but we have realised that we need something like R1,4 million to complete this building but so far we are at about 65 percent in terms of completion of which we have managed to raise about R600 000. A block has already been completed, now we are on the other one which is at roof level,” said Clr Ncube.
He said despite the community receiving funding from people in the diaspora, locals were also making efforts to assist.
“I am glad that a majority of the people, in a short space of time, have realised that we should develop our place. Another major challenge is the issue of youth, the type of leadership that I have introduced is not from the top to the bottom but from the bottom to the top meaning I am not using a push factor but a pull factor whereby I engage them and see what the problem is then we work on it. They have genuine concerns. We need to prioritise the youth and educate them on the importance of development,” said Clr Ncube.
One of the founding members of the clinic project, Mrs Abigail Ndlovu said the clinic is fully funded by the Mako ward development initiatives which consist of children born in Ratanyana but are now in the diaspora.
“The clinic that we are building is going to be of use to five villages namely Simpane, Nkantini, Makoloi, Fusini and Mahlabathini. People in the diaspora came together and came up with the idea to raise funds so that the clinic will be built. We have an account in South Africa whereby anyone in the diaspora can send money in that account for the construction of the clinic. There are other projects that we are planning to do in the future but for now, our main focus is on the clinic. We are doing this clinic for the well-being of the villagers,” she said.
Meanwhile, Clr Ndlovu said schools in the district were now also a cause for concern, which they were looking at addressing in the near future.
“One school that has caught my attention is Maribeha Primary School. Classrooms are a cause for concern as there are only two classroom blocks with a school consisting of 370 pupils. Some of the pupils are now using a church near the school and some are using store rooms.
“What really touched me was a class with 75 pupils in Grade Four with only a few desks and chairs that were not safe for the kids. The floors are a health hazard to children. We need about US$10 000 minimum just to do maintenance work at Maribeha Primary,” he said.
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