Source: Robert Mugabe Clinic takes shape in Zvimba – herald
Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
A MODERN primary healthcare facility being constructed in Zvimba in honour of the late former President and liberation icon, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is nearing completion, with works now more than 70 percent complete.
The Robert Mugabe Clinic, being built by Kadoma-based businessman, philanthropist and Zanu PF National Consultative Assembly member Cde Jimayi Muduvuri, is expected to improve access to quality healthcare for thousands of people while preserving the legacy of one of the country’s foremost liberation leaders.
Located in Cde Mugabe’s rural home area, the 16-roomed health institution is part of a wider programme under which Cde Muduvuri is establishing clinics in all of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces through a Pan-African healthcare initiative targeting underserved communities.
The project comes as the country prepares to commemorate Heroes and Defence Forces holidays next month, with the clinic standing as a lasting tribute to the sacrifices made by liberation heroes and heroines.
Construction activity is in full swing, with local men, women and youths employed on site as builders race towards completion of the facility, which will offer outpatient services, maternal and child healthcare, consultation rooms, a pharmacy, observation wards and administrative offices.
Speaking during a tour of the project on Saturday, Cde Muduvuri said naming the clinic after Cde Mugabe was a deliberate decision aimed at honouring a leader whose contributions to the country’s liberation and post-independence development transformed the lives of millions.
“Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe dedicated his life to the liberation and development of Zimbabwe,” he said. “Building this clinic in his home area is our way of ensuring that his legacy continues to positively impact communities through improved healthcare.”
Cde Muduvuri said the initiative was inspired by President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind, with the private sector complementing Government efforts to expand access to essential social services.
“As Jimayi Muduvuri, I have chosen to concentrate on health because a healthy nation is a productive nation.
“We are supporting Government programmes by taking quality healthcare closer to the people,” he said.
Cde Muduvuri said all war veterans would continue receiving free treatment at his medical institutions in recognition of their sacrifices during the liberation struggle.
“This is our way of saying thank you to the men and women who fought for Zimbabwe’s independence. We can never repay their sacrifices, but we can honour them by protecting their dignity through access to quality healthcare,” he said.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Cde Muduvuri said he remained grateful to President Mnangagwa for facilitating life-saving medical treatment when he fell critically ill in 2005.
“That hand that lifted me when I was down is the same hand that is lifting Zimbabwe today. A true son of the soil does not bite the hand that fed him.
“We must embrace unity, healing and nation-building,” he said.
He urged Zimbabweans to resolve their differences through dialogue while remaining focused on national development.
“As Pan-Africanists, our weapon has always been dialogue. Differences among members of one family should be resolved through engagement.
“Let us build Zimbabwe together, with everyone playing their part.”
Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka commended Cde Muduvuri for translating liberation history into practical community development through the construction of the clinic.
“This is a commendable gesture that honours the legacy of our founding leader, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, in a practical and meaningful way.
“Instead of merely talking about our liberation heroes, Cde Muduvuri is ensuring that communities continue benefiting from their legacy through improved access to healthcare,” she said.
She added that the project reflected the revolutionary values of patriotism, selflessness and service to the people that defined the liberation struggle.
“We encourage more patriotic Zimbabweans and businesspeople to emulate such initiatives that complement Government efforts under President Mnangagwa’s development agenda.
“This is what nation-building is all about.”
Residents have also welcomed the development, saying it will improve access to healthcare services while creating employment opportunities.
Mrs Chiedza Mhlanga-Muchakachi, who is among villagers employed during construction, said the clinic would significantly reduce travelling distances for patients seeking medical attention.
“We are happy that this clinic is being built close to our homes. It will reduce the distance we travel to access medical services and ease pressure on Murombedzi Hospital and other nearby health facilities,” she said.
Another resident, Ms Moreblessing Mhizha, said the project was already transforming lives even before completion.
“Many local people have found employment through this project while, at the same time, we are building a facility that will benefit future generations.”
Zvimba Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Enias Chidakwa said the clinic complemented efforts to expand healthcare infrastructure in the district.
Once completed, the Robert Mugabe Clinic will join a growing network of health institutions established by Cde Muduvuri and named after liberation icons, including Father Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda, Chief Rekai Tangwena and Herbert Chitepo.
In 2023, President Mnangagwa commissioned the Jimayi Muduvuri Pan-African Referral Hospital in Kadoma, which has since been licensed to train Registered General Nurses, with its inaugural intake expected to commence soon.
The Robert Mugabe Clinic is expected to play a significant role in improving healthcare delivery in Zvimba, while serving as a lasting symbol of the link between Zimbabwe’s liberation legacy and community development.
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