The Sunday News
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
KWEKWE City Council has committed the largest chunk of its Devolution Funds to converting a popular council bar, Garandichauya Beerhall, into a state-of-the-art infectious disease hospital.
If successful, the institution becomes only the fourth in the country after two in the capital and another in Bulawayo. The local authority has so far received $7,2 million with the largest chunk being channelled towards the hospital project as well as improving water and sanitation.
Acting Town Clerk, Dr Lucia Mnkandla said work had already begun on site with feasibility studies having been done.
“We have embarked on a project where we intend to convert one of our biggest beer outlet, Garandichauya Beerhall, into an infectious diseases hospital. Work has already begun on site and we have so far purchased a few materials required for the job,” said Dr Mnkandla.
She said refurbishment would be done using council manpower.
“Our engineering department had already drafted the plan for the proposed institution which will probably be helpful not only in the district but the province as a whole. Certainly, we cannot rely on people from somewhere else yet we have qualified people within council for the job so we are going to utilise those,” she said.
Dr Mnkandla said about $1,5 million has so far been channelled towards the project with more funds expected to be injected into the project in the next batch of the devolution fund.
This is the second time the local authority has taken such a move after it also converted Mbizo 16 beerhall into a clinic.
The clinic has come in handy for residents from the eastern side of the mining town who were walking long distances to the nearest medical facility at Mbizo 11. Dr Mnkandla said this was council’s way of improving people’s livelihoods.
“We proposed the project to the Government and they gave it a thumbs up meaning we are in the right direction of improving the lives of the people by ensuring they have access to medical facilities without having to travel long distances,” she said.
Besides medical institutions, the local authority committed another chunk of the money to improving water quality.
The local authority is also refurbishing old and decapitated houses in Mbizo 7 as it seeks to improve living conditions. So far 13 new houses have been constructed under the project and three more destroyed and are being rebuilt.
The local authority is also refurbishing and partitioning an old flea market with a view of accommodating about 70 traders.
A state-of-the-art farmer and vendors’ market is also under construction using the same funds. Rehabilitation of Kwekwe Theatre, council-owned venue as well as installation of street lights are some of the projects that the local authority is undertaking.
During a recent visit to the town to tour the devolution projects, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Senator Larry Mavima, expressed satisfaction at the way Kwekwe City has handled devolution projects and pledged to drum up support for the hospital project.
“This is an example of how devolution funds should be used, projects that transform people’s lives.
“In fact, I can assist to source for more funding for the project so that it becomes a huge success. This would be resounding success for the province,” said Sen Mavima.
