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Cletus Mushanawani Mash Central Bureau Chief
GOVERNMENT has availed more land to Chapoto Clinic in Kanyemba to facilitate its upgrading into a rural health centre.

Chief director in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Mr Christopher Shumba said topographical survey for the proposed Chapoto Rural Health Centre was completed and the site was enlarged to 3,6 hectares.

“Chapoto Clinic, which serves a population of 4 610 settlements, is supposed to be upgraded into a rural hospital. Both architectural and engineering drawings are already in place. Based on the drawings, the estimated costs of the project as at June 2019 was $11 846 530,” said Mr Shumba.

A mothers’ waiting shelter has since been completed, while solar energy is being used to supply power as efforts to upgrade the clinic continues to gather momentum.

Although the solar system has come in handy in addressing the power challenges at the clinic, it needs upgrading to last the whole night and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development Engineer Gloria Magombo said an additional unit will be availed as a short-term measure.

“We will be seconding engineers to look at the existing system to see that another unit is added since the mothers’ waiting shelter has been completed.

“As for permanent solutions, we want to have a 140km power line that will run from Mushumbi to this area. Once completed, this line will serve all proposed developments in Kanyemba.

“We are waiting for funding and we want this project to start as soon as possible.

“We have also been in contact with our counterparts from Zambia for us to get power from Luwanga. This will require us to have a 100m power line and work will commence soon. A number of stakeholders will benefit from the Luwanga line,” said Eng Magorimbo.

While work is progressing on well at Chapoto Clinic, it is a different story at Mariga Clinic, where a waiting shelter for patients is still to be constructed as there is no budget for it.

On other developments to be done at the border area, Mr Shumba said they had designated a zone for a frontline of tourism facilities and a golf course along Zambezi River.

He said the proposed residential areas will include cluster houses and flats, while work is expected to commence soon for a composite office temporary structure to accommodate those seconded to work on the development of Kanyemba into a town.

“Both architectural and engineering drawings for the composite office temporary structure have been produced. Siting of the structure is yet to be done, and construction works are expected to be carried out by the Public Works Department in Mashonaland Central.

“For the arts and culture centre, feasibility studies and siting of the proposed facility are already in place,” said Mr Shumba.