Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
THE power of community participation and partnerships in driving national development is bearing fruit in Mhondoro-Mubaira where the construction of Chakache Clinic in Ward 10 is now more than 95 percent complete.
The health facility, which is being constructed through a partnership between villagers, their ward councillor and Chegutu Rural District Council (RDC), is expected to ease the burden on residents who currently travel long distances to access healthcare services at neighbouring facilities.
Once commissioned, Chakache Clinic will bring healthcare services closer to communities in the area, where some villagers are currently travelling at least 15 kilometres to access medical care.
The project has received significant support from residents of Nhamo, Maponga and Munaku villages, who have contributed labour, bricks, sand and stones towards its construction.
Ward 10 councillor and benefactor, Cde Ignatious Gavaza, has also bankrolled the project, providing funds, building materials and artisans.
Zimpapers recently visited the facility, where construction was at an advanced stage, with only a few outstanding works, including plumbing and electrical wiring.
Maponga village head Mr Forbes Mutandwa said the clinic would help address challenges faced by pregnant women who have to travel long distances to access healthcare.
“We have seen some expecting mothers lose their unborn babies as they sometimes fail to make it to the nearby clinics. The coming in of this facility is going to address these challenges,” he said.
Mr Mutandwa said his village, which has about 180 households, had actively participated in the construction of the facility.
Nhamo village head Ms Perseverance Nhamo and Munaku village head, whose village has more than 150 households, said the project was bringing much-needed development closer to their communities.
Gogo Perpetual Sanyama (68), a long-time resident of Nhamo village, recalled the challenges residents had faced over the years due to the absence of a nearby health facility.
She said the clinic would help reduce deaths and other health-related challenges associated with delayed access to medical attention.
Cllr Gavaza said the project was part of the promises he made to residents during the 2023 harmonised elections.
“During the 2023 harmonised elections, I promised to construct a clinic in this area after having noticed how critical it was,” he said.
“As a councillor for this ward, I bankrolled the works with funds, artisans and some of the building material for the clinic and the staff quarters.”
He acknowledged the contributions made by villagers and Chegutu RDC, which provided roofing sheets for the clinic.
Clr Gavaza said he had also committed to constructing two additional staff houses at the facility.
The community-led initiative dovetails with efforts by Chegutu RDC to improve access to healthcare services across its jurisdiction.
Chegutu RDC social services manager Mr Tawanda Kangai said the local authority was constructing and upgrading several health facilities.
“We have five clinics under construction in the area, and the council is ensuring that the existing ones are also going under major upgrades. Our clinics provide all the major and critical services,” he said.
