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Munyaradzi Doma in Zvishavane
THE opening of Dambudzo Clinic in Zvishavane’s Shauke Ward 3 has been delayed owing to a variety of challenges being experienced by council. The clinic, which was set to open at the end of August, is yet to be registered while Government has not provided workers to complete the project. Runde Rural District Council chief executive Mr Gorden Moyo said everything was ready for the completion of the clinic. The construction of the clinic started in 2004 but was stopped midway owing to funding challenges before the Runde RDC resumed the project with assistance from several partners in 2015.

“In terms of material things, everything we wanted is on site. The challenge that we face is that we engaged the Public Works Department so that we can get manpower to go on the ground and start the work inside the clinic,” he said.

Mr Moyo said council was also waiting for the Health and Child Care ministry to second staff to the clinic.

“The challenge is that this clinic is not yet registered. We hope the process will be expiated. But what we had agreed with them in principal is that there is no way people should suffer because of some registration paper.

“And the Ministry of Health and Child Care will also have to provide us with the start-up drug consignment but have said they are still working on that since the clinic was not registered.

He said Government had, however, agreed to recruit staff for the clinic. Mr Moyo said funding for salaries for staff should be from the community. The delays have, however, affected villagers who have to travel up to 10kms to Mabasa, Mapanzure or Matenda clinics. Some villagers, Mr Moyo said, have to navigate the crocodile-infested Runde River to reach Matenda Clinic. Shauke Ward 3 Councillor Martin Mapfumo said the opening of the clinic was now long overdue.

“People need access to health facilities in the shortest period of time. We have schools here so it will be good for the children to have access to health institutions,” he said.