By Panashe Divine Karidzagundi
BEITBRIDGE district will witness a development renaissance under the new crop of councillors determined to overhaul the lives of the people the chairman of the local authority Councillor Oscar Chiromo has said.
“We want to be a council that finishes projects, not just talking about what others didn’t do. Let us work, Honorable Minister, and you will commission Dumba Clinic, Mtetengwa, Mazunga, and Tshabili Secondary School projects and many more during our term, it will be commissioning after commissioning, ‘ said Chiromo.
Chiromo said his team will be committed to serving and being accountable to the community.
“Councilors are your messengers, use them. They’re not your bosses, they work for you,” he said and encouraged the community to seek his assistance where council workers appeared not working.
Chiromo was speaking during the official opening of Tshabili Clinic 80 kilometres east of Beitbridge where the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe was guest of honour.
In a show of commitment, Chiromo assured Nguluvhe his office will continue to seek guidance from the minister’soffice ensure work is done properly.
Acting CEO of BBRDC Peter Ncube, highlighted the council’s ambition to provide accessible health services, with a goal of having at least two clinics per ward and ensuring communities have health services within a 15km radius.
He emphasized the importance of the whole of government approach, which has enabled the council to tap into technical expertise from various line ministries and development partners.
Ncube said currently the council is working on five clinics in different wards, including Whunga, Malivhengeni, Topolo, Ndande, and Tshipise clinics.
He thanked partners including the International Organization for Migration, Zimbabwe Defense Forces, and local communities, for their contributions to the project.
Ncube also acknowledged challenges, including uncoordinated land allocation by traditional leaders and inadequate equipment for road and infrastructure development and appealed for consistent disbursement of the inter-governmental Physical Grant.
The commissioning of Tshabili Clinic is a step towards achieving the government’s Vision 2030 and improving healthcare services in the district.
Prior to its establishment villagers travelled long distances in search of healthcare services.
Dr. Thomas Kalasani, Chief Migration Health Officer for IOM Zimbabwe highlighted the clinic’s significance, saying it represents a promise to expand healthcare services to vulnerable migrants and mobile populations.
Tshabili Clinic is located in an area with a high prevalence of labour migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The clinic’s construction is part of IOM’s response to the needs of vulnerable migrants and mobile populations in Zimbabwe. Dr. Kalasani emphasized the importance of community based planning, where communities are at the heart of development efforts.
He noted that migration brought unique vulnerabilities, and migrants often faced barriers to accessing healthcare services. IOM has been working with the government and local authorities to strengthen health systems and provide essential services to migrants and host communities.