Emganwini residents are contributing R10 per household for the construction of a community clinic to improve access to primary health care in the ward.
The suburb currently has no community clinic and residents have to rely on private health facilities and clinics in nearby wards.
Two residents’ associations, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) recently petitioned the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to construct a clinic in the ward.
The local authority has cited lack of funds for the construction of the clinic.
Speaking at the recently held full council meeting, Emganwini councillor Mpumelelo Moyo said the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) were not adequate to complete the construction of the clinic.
According to the previous council minutes, the director of housing and community services department established that the cost of constructing a clinic was US$3 million and the local member of Parliament Phelela Masuku had indicated that he could source funding amounting to ZWL$3.8 million through the CDF.
“The initial plan was to construct the clinic using CDF but the money was not sufficient and residents ended up assisting, they are now paying R10 per household for it to be a success,” said Cllr Moyo.
“I am asking for this department to assist us in Emganwini because I think we should prioritize the health of residents and maybe as town planning expands Emganwini, they should look at such amenities so that the population and social amenities found in Emganwini correspond.”
Moyo also said the ward has no library and a revenue hall.
“Let us just not expand Emganwini without the corresponding social amenities with the population. We don’t have a library; we don’t have a revenue hall. The clinic that is under construction has just four rooms and the money is coming from the CDF and residents’ R10,” he said.
“There is no park, so it’s a sad situation in Emganwini, may we please look at the social amenities.”
