From George Maponga at NUANETSI RANCH, in Mwenezi
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) on Monday unveiled a $300 000 state-of-the-art clinic built by the army at Chingwizi in Nuanetsi Ranch, Mwenezi, to cater for over 3 000 families displaced by floods in the Tokwe-Mukosi basin two years ago. ZDF Commander General Constantino Guveya Nyikadzino Chiwenga officially handed over the clinic to the community during the launch of this year’s Defence Forces Community Assistance Week.The clinic was built by artisans from the army for free with the National Aids Council providing funds with CBZ Bank providing over 5 000 bags of cement.
Family of God Church led by Apostle Andrew Wutawunashe built two big houses to accommodate nurses at Chingwizi Clinic.
Handing over the new clinic to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Gen Chiwenga said: “Every year a week before the Defence Forces Day our defence forces embark on week-long community assistance projects as part of our community responsibility programmes throughout the country and the major highlight of this year’s Defence Forces Community Assistance Week is the handover of Chingwizi Clinic that was built through collaborative effort from various players.
‘’The Zimbabwe Defence Forces normally provides its technical expertise during the Community Assistance Week where we target building of schools because an educated nation is an empowered one. The other partners provide funding and other material resources while the army provides its expertise for free and the handover of Chingwizi Clinic today (Monday) officially marks the ZDF Community Assistance Week which is traditionally held a week before our Defence Forces Day celebrations that will be held on 9 August,’’ he added.
He said ZDF prioritised nurturing a close relationship with the Zimbabwean community as it was the source of future army personnel.
‘’As we always said even during the liberation struggle the people are the water while the defence forces are like fish. We cannot survive without the people hence our move to embark on the Defence Forces Community Assistance Week to maintain the long-standing relationship between the army and the people.’’
Gen Chiwenga said several army units were involved in community assistance projects in various parts of the country
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa hailed the country’s defence forces, NAC and FOG Church for joining hands to build Chingwizi Clinic.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the new Chingwizi Clinic would offer services ranging from opportunistic infections and anti-retroviral therapy and male circumcision, which would go a long way in containing the HIV and Aids scourge.
NAC board member Mr Golden Goni, said Aids Levy inflows were being affected by the dwindling number of people in formal employment due to company closures, but added that his organisation would continue to invest in the health delivery system in Zimbabwe.
Present at the event were Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa, Major-General Trust Mugoba representing ZNA Commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda, Air Vice Marshal Jacob John Nzvede, who was representing AFZ Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, NAC chief executive officer Dr Tapiwa Mugure and Apostle Wutawunashe among others.