Dewe villagers unite to build own clinic
Innocent Mgutshini
MATOBO – The Dewe community in Matobo District, Matabeleland South province, with the help of their legislator has pooled meagre resources to build a clinic at Dewe village which is a stone throw away from the Njelele sacred mountain.
Currently, locals have to make do with traveling for more than 12 kilometres to access the nearest health centre. The status quo has motivated villagers to defy the odds by building a more proximate clinic.
The structure which is now at foundation level will bring smiles to women and the elderly people in the Dewe area who for long have borne the brunt of long distances to access health facilities.
Speaking to Community Podium, Councillor for Ward 17 Majahana Moyo revealed that it took ages for the community to commence work on the envisaged clinic because of financial challenges since most of the community members rely on subsistence backyard farming, lack savings and a reliable source of income. He appealed for well wishers and local government to assist the community members attain their lifelong dream.
“It has taken us longer than necessary to start building and we are still trying, as a community, to raise the walls . Initially, we had been given land close to Dewe stores but the inspectors said the land was not fit for building structures and we moved a bit further.
We are united for a cause as you can see that women, the youth and the elderly are all providing manpower, pitsand, riversand quarry and bricks .We want to give thanks to Pro Africa Organisation who donated 300 bags of cement two years ago with which we managed to mold cement bricks.
“We also received a shot in the arm in the form of 135 bags of cement from the Community Development Fund (CDF) through our MP, Hon.Edgar Moyo and the contribution has assisted us a lot in laying both the foundation and footing. There is a lot that we still need as far as the clinic project completion is concerned. We are therefore seeking for donations, be it in the form of cash, cement, brick force, door frames ,window frames, window panes and zinc. Any other form of aid would also be much appreciated. Villagers walk a long distance from Dewe to Natisa which is a huge challenge to our expecting mothers, the elderly, children and persons in emergency situations,” he said.
Mqoqi Ndebele, a local youth cited marginalisation as the reason behind the length of time taken before building commencement.
” It has taken us a very long time trying to work on our clinic project because it is not an easy road, especially for a marginalized community like Dewe with no reliable source of funding and characterised by high unemployment.
I want to urge the youth to continue in the spirit of unity to see out the completion of our precious clinic. We are the energetic group and so our drive is key to making this project a success.
As a community, we need helping hands to chip in financially so that we can finish what we started, ” said Ndebele.
Eliphas Mlotshwa, Chairperson of the project is optimistic that the much anticipated clinic would be operational in a few months.
“This clinic structure is a good symbol of the togetherness prevailing in the area as we push towards the development of our ward which is home to a marginalized community. Community participation and commitment is commendable and long may it continue. Our own local builders are working on a voluntary basis but we are trying by all means to keep them motivated as a community.
“Diasporans hailing from the villages surrounding Dewe have promised to assist us with building material dedicated to the construction of the clinic but we have not received much so far but we still have hope that they will eventually come through for us. Our cry and appeal is for assistance in building materials as we are at a formative stage of the building,” he said.
Upon completion, Dewe clinic is set to serve a total of five villages, namely Silungadzi, Halale, Njelele, Dewe and Mawusumani
