The Sunday Mail
Leroy Dzenga
Senior Reporter
The devolution of power to communities is changing lives in a profound way, particularly in rural areas.
After struggling to get standard healthcare for years, Mazowe District in Mashonaland Central province is currently being transformed under an ambitious plan to build a clinic in each of its 34 wards.
Giant strides have since been made in several communities.
Some of the primary healthcare facilities that have been constructed are Gombekombe Clinic, Chigwida Clinic, Lazy 7 Clinic and Dandamera Clinic.
Gombekombe Clinic and Chigwida Clinic are in Ward 4 and Ward 2G, respectively, in Mazowe North.
Lazy 7 is in Ward 26, which is in the resettlement area of Mazowe, while Dandamera Clinic is in Concession.
Gombekombe Clinic is perhaps one of the shining examples of how communities can champion their own development.
The project was started using the Constituency Development Fund in 2017. While the money could be used to only source the materials, the community contributed their labour.
Last year, Mazowe Rural District Council had to chip in as the project stuttered due to financial constraints.
Mazowe Rural District Council human resources manager Mr Admire Chikonamombe said they used devolution funds to finally get the clinic running.
“Gombekombe Clinic started off as a community initiative and council intervened to fulfil the wishes of the community, as per the devolution principle,” he said.
The clinic is being built as a stock-type health centre, meaning it takes into account the Ministry of Health and Child Care specifications.
“It is a modern structure, which has a standard that is set to be valid for the next 20 or so years.
“Council envisages that the facility will serve 5 000 people. Gombekombe Clinic covers areas in Chiweshe such as Rwere Business Centre, Gombekombe Primary and Secondary School and Gombekombe Business Centre.
“People had to walk to clinics in Bindura Rural District, beyond the Chiweshe-Bindura boundary,” he said.
One of the issues that has dogged rural institutions is accommodation for health professionals.
“We are building staff houses to make sure that the personnel we get are well taken care of. We want to avoid a situation where nurses end up struggling for accommodation.
“Gombekombe Clinic will have maternity facilities, bringing convenience to thousands of women who had to endure difficult days travelling to other wards days prior to their delivery dates and staying in expectant mothers’ facilities,” added Mr Chikonamombe.
Ward 4 councillor Mr Michael Mutopa said completion of the Gombekombe project will make life easier for the residents.
“The clinic is complete. What is left are the staff quarters, which are in the final stages.
“We can’t wait for the clinic to officially open.
“People would go to Makumbe Clinic, almost 13 kilometres away; and Bare Clinic, which is further away. Transport in this area is a problem.
“There is one bus; if you miss it, you have to wait for its return. There are number of women who gave birth on the way to seek help,” he said.
Chigwida Clinic in Ward 2G, Mazowe North, is now 80 percent complete and is likely to bring relief to villagers in the
area.
The local authority’s district engineer, Cleopas Mupereki, who has been overseeing the projects, said health delivery in the district will continue to change for the better.
“Chigwida Clinic is 80 percent complete and the staff houses are 60 percent complete,” he said.
There will be waiting mothers’ facilities for those who come from far-away areas.
Villagers who live in the vicinity have benefitted by way of job opportunities, as they have been heavily involved in construction work. “Initially, for Chigwida, we had engaged a private contractor who was not based in the area.
“We found that there were many challenges and the construction would be delayed.
“Sometimes payments would be delayed and they would move out. We had to terminate that contract and engaged locals after applying for exemption from Government,” said Engineer Mupereki.
Locals are excited that their efforts are coming to fruition.
Mr Fanuel Unhike, treasurer of the community committee involved in the clinic’s construction, said they cannot wait for the project to be commissioned.
“The initiatives by locals started in 2021, led by councillor Zimbiti, now late. People were used to going to Jongamvura or Chinehasha, which are both about 10 kilometres away.
“They would cross Ruya River to go to clinics under the Bindura Rural District Council. Now, Chigwida has potential to become a referral hospital,” he said.
Lazy 7 Clinic is still in its early days but it is expected to cater for the burgeoning population in resettlement areas around Ward 26. Completion of the project is expected in 2023.
Dandamera Clinic in Ward 15, one of the most populated areas in the district, was constructed swiftly using devolution funds and has helped to ease congestion at Concession District Hospital.
Eng Mupereki said the council is confident of meeting its target of building a clinic in every ward.
They are, however, appealing for assistance in room loading, which is the purchase of beds, accessories and other critical equipment needed for primary health delivery services.
Eng Mupereki also called for timely disbursement of devolution funds to facilitate timeous completion of planned projects.
Devolution, which has been made a reality by the Second Republic, empowers local authorities and communities to set development priorities.
Treasury is responsible for disbursing the funds.
