CDF projects mark 2nd Republic’s drive to improve rural services

Victor Maphosa and Andrew Muvishi

The construction of a new admission block at Nzira Rural Health Centre in Mutoko South Constituency and an Advanced Level classroom block at St Ludger Secondary School in Marondera East mark milestones in the Second Republic’s efforts to expand access to healthcare and education in rural communities.

Funded through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the two projects address long-standing infrastructure gaps that had forced patients to share admission space and learners to travel long distances in search of Advanced Level education in the areas.

The developments reflect ongoing efforts to bring essential services closer to communities, in line with the Second Republic’s development agenda of leaving no one and no place behind.

At Nzira Rural Health Centre, the new admission block has ended the practice of accommodating male and female patients in the same room, improving privacy and conditions for those requiring in-patient care.

The facility was constructed after the clinic struggled to accommodate patients requiring admission, particularly during periods of high malaria cases in the area.

Nzira and surrounding communities, including Village 40 and Jani, are prone to malaria, with some patients requiring close monitoring by nurses.

Previously, the clinic had only one admission room, forcing male and female patients to share the same space. The addition block now allows the facility to accommodate the two groups separately.

In an interview, Mutoko South legislator Cde Isaac Tasikani said his office would continue using CDF resources to implement development projects across the constituency, including in hard-to-reach areas.

Besides the new admission block at Nzira Rural Health Centre, Cde Tasikani said his office was implementing other projects in the health and education sectors to improve access to essential services.

“The aim is to ensure everyone in my constituency has easy access to critical services. This is why we are carrying out projects in every corner of this constituency,” he said.

“Our President, Cde Mnangagwa, is inspiring us to work hard and ensure no one and no place is left behind in terms of development.

“So, here we constructed an admission block after we saw the plight of staff and the community, whereby patients were all admitted in a single ward, both male and female. We could not watch that; hence we quickly intervened, and I want to thank the community for working tirelessly to ensure the project is a success.”

Cde Tasikani said his office had also constructed two staff houses at Chimurenga Clinic to improve accommodation for health workers.

“We built two staff houses at that clinic for the convenience of the clinic staff. We are drilling boreholes at clinics and schools in this constituency. We are also installing Starlink facilities at those clinics and schools.

“The idea is for these institutions to be connected. We thank President Mnangagwa for all these developments,” he said.

For communities served by Nzira Rural Health Centre, the new block is expected to improve the conditions under which patients receive care, particularly when malaria cases increase and admissions become necessary.

Ward 9 Councillor Cde Mary Pike welcomed the development, saying the additional facility would improve privacy and service delivery at the clinic.

“We are thankful to President Mnangagwa for making sure funds were availed for the construction of this building. We also commend our Member of Parliament, Cde Tasikani, for ensuring the CDF was put to good use.

“Now there are two admission blocks, one for the males and another for females. This is a welcome development. Our clinic is now giving us top-notch services, and we are grateful,” she said.

Mr Chris Saidi said the additional admission block was important for a community that regularly experiences malaria cases.

“People from this area, especially in Village 40 and Jani, are always having sleepless nights due to malaria.

“A lot of people would come to this place for assistance, and others would require admission. What makes us happy now is that our MP identified this challenge and made sure to address the issue of inadequate admission rooms. Lives will be saved,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Marondera East Constituency, the construction of the first Advanced Level classroom block at St Ludger Secondary School marks another milestone in efforts to expand educational opportunities for rural learners.

The project, funded through CDF resources and spearheaded by the constituency’s legislator, Cde Vimbayi Mutokonyi, is expected to enable learners to continue their education closer to home after completing Ordinary Level, potentially reducing school dropouts.

Established in 1981, St Ludger Secondary School had operated without Advanced Level facilities, forcing learners seeking to proceed with their studies to secure places at distant schools.

The classroom block was commissioned last Friday.

In a speech read on his behalf by Mashonaland East provincial education director Ms Anatoria Ncube, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Itayi Ndudzo said the school needed a science laboratory before it could be fully recognised as a high school and “to support the effective teaching of science subjects at Advanced Level”.

The development of the classroom block is, therefore, an important step towards establishing Advanced Level education at the school, although additional requirements must be met before classes can begin.

In his remarks, Cde Mutokonyi said the school’s strategic location would enable it to serve learners from neighbouring communities.

“St Ludger is strategically located at the centre of three secondary schools, which will act as feeder schools once Advanced Level classes are introduced.

“This will enable learners from surrounding communities to continue their education without travelling long distances,” he said.

A parent, Mrs Josephine Gandiya, thanked the Government and Cde Mutokonyi for providing resources towards the project.

“We are grateful to the Government and our Member of Parliament for constructing this classroom block, which will enable our children to continue their education closer to home.

“This development will help reduce school dropouts and protect children from drug and substance abuse by keeping them engaged in education,” she said.

However, the school still requires qualified teachers, learning materials, a science laboratory and regulatory approval before it can begin offering Advanced Level classes.

The two projects demonstrate how CDF resources are being directed towards practical community needs, from improving patient accommodation at rural health facilities to expanding access to higher levels of secondary education.

For communities that have long faced gaps in basic infrastructure, the developments represent tangible progress towards the Second Republic’s goal of bringing essential services closer to the people and ensuring that rural communities also benefit from national development.

Source: CDF projects mark 2nd Republic’s drive to improve rural services – herald

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