adminMichael Magoronga
Midlands Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) yesterday handed over Sherwood Clinic that was constructed by its artisans as part of their community assistance and corporate social responsibility.
The clinic, a stone throw away from President Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm, saw the initial clinic being expanded and now comprises a maternity ward with a capacity to house 12 mothers, an executive ward, laundry house and kitchen as well as staff house.
Besides the state-of-the-art equipment and furniture installed in the wards, the clinic also received a brand-new ambulance that is expected to service the Sherwood community.
The clinic also has a waiting shelter for expectant mothers.
The Sherwood Clinic expansion was initially funded by Zibagwe RDC that channelled $11 913 674.62 fromdevolution funds before it became inadequate for the project.
Gransharp Private Limited, a local mining company, then stepped in to partner the local authority in funding the project to the tune of US$250 000.
The ZDF came in with the technical expertise whilst the community led by Ward 31 Councillor Tichafa Chitate provided human capital and other locally available resources.
Gransharp funded the construction of the laundry house, 400m precast wall, septic tank and soak away as well as landscaping to improve the aesthetics at the clinic.
They also catered for the rehabilitation of staff houses and the mothers’ waiting house.
The company also donated an ambulance and pledged to pay the paramedic team to operate the ambulance for a year.
Officially commissioning the clinic, Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Senator Larry Mavima urged other local authorities to emulate the partnership.
“I urge the rest of the local authorities to borrow a leaf from the model we have witnessed here today. Over dependency on devolution funds only limits the scope of our interventions. Let us innovate and engage in private public partnerships to enhance capital inflows for project implementation,’ said Minister Mavima.
He said the active role played by the community by gathering locally available human and material resources was in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 which is anchored on broad based citizenry participation in national and socio-economic development programs.
He hailed the ZDF for providing the technical personnel who played a critical role in the construction of the maternity ward.
“The quality of work that has been produced here speaks volumes about the high levels of commitment to duty and professionalism that we have also witnessed in several projects in various parts of the Midlands Province and the country at large,” he said.
Commander 5 Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Simo Maseko the ZDF remains committed to uplifting lives of people in their operational areas and where possible bring in development.
He said they have introduced a free medical outreach program for the community.
“We have already started a free medical outreach programme which started on 20 September 20202 and is going to run up to 23 September. We are providing free medical examinations to all community members and we also give free medication to our patients as part of our community assistance,” said Brig Gene Maseko.
Although the ZDF has other running projects in the province like construction of bridges and classroom blocks across the province, they have prioritized the construction and revamping of the health sector.
The ZDF has already constructed and commissioned Katema Clinic in Gokwe, Negove Clinic in Mberengwa, Mberengwa Maternity Ward among other projects.
Plans are afoot also to handover Tongogara Polyclinic which is now at an advanced stage of completion.
Gransharp general manager, Mr Nyasha Chinjeke said their gesture was necessitated by the need to compliment government efforts in revamping the health sector.
“We want to continue complementing government efforts and we remain optimistic that our efforts will help the government and the country to attain the envisaged Vision 2030 with a strong functioning health sector,” he said.
The development is a clear testimony that PPPs can go a long way to compliment the efforts by the Second Republic to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy anchored on infrastructural development.
Online Reporter