As Land Shortages Bite, Kwekwe Turns to Miners over New Clinic Space

In the wake of reports that Kwekwe City Council has run out of land to construct a new clinic in the Ward Six area, the local authority has now resorted to engaging local miners to cede their land for the construction of the proposed medical facility.

In his remarks during a recent full council meeting at Town House, Ward 1 Councillor Silas Mukaro said his Ward Six counterpart, Cllr McLean Nyamucherera, had requested, and was assured of land, by the local miners who occupy vast tracts of land in the Midlands mining town.

Until March 26, when Makomborero Mlambo triumphed in the by-elections for Ward Eight, Nyamucherera was the only councillor elected on a Zanu PF ticket out of Kwekwe’s fourteen (14) wards, now predominantly falling under the control of the Nelson Chamisa-led main opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change party.

Following Cllr Nyamucherera’s move to engage the miners so that they cede part of their land to pave way for the construction of the new clinic in Ward 6, Cllr Mukaro implored on Kwekwe’s Director of Health and Community Services, Tendayi Patricia Shumba to work hand-in-gloves with the Ward Six Councilor.

“The council must raise funds for the construction of a clinic in Ward Six,” he said.

Added Mukaro:

“Council has run out of land in the ward and I must say that it is important to meet the miners over this issue so that we are able to resolve it”.

Mukaro also called upon council management to put the devolution funds to good use through the construction of a clinic in the ward amid reports that residents from the area were bearing the brunt of walking relatively long distances to get medical attention.

While accenting to the need for the local authority to engage miners so that council acquires land for the construction of the new clinic, Acting Town Clerk, Engineer John Mhike highlighted the need for ‘conclusive engagements’ on the matter.

Presently, five medical facilities in Kwekwe are municipal-owned and these include, Mbizo 1 Clinic, Mbizo 11 Clinic, Mbizo 16 Clinic, Al Davis Clinic and Kwekwe Infectious Diseases Hospital.

On the other hand, construction of a satellite council-run clinic in leafy Msasa Park is already taking placed.

Zwnews