Story by Panashe Nagoli
THE Government has commissioned new service delivery equipment for Epworth and broken ground on key infrastructure projects aimed at improving healthcare, emergency response and municipal services in the growing settlement.
Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Albert Mavunga presided over the commissioning ceremony, which also marked the official groundbreaking for the construction of a maternity theatre, mortuary and a proposed fire station.
Residents welcomed the developments, saying the projects will improve access to essential services.
“We used to walk to Chitungwiza to get treatment, but now theatres will be near, which is beneficial,” said one resident.
Another resident said the planned mortuary would ease the financial burden on bereaved families.
“Funeral parlours cost us a lot of money because we did not have a mortuary, but we want to thank the government that Epworth has been remembered.”
A third resident described the projects as long overdue.
“We are very happy with the groundbreaking of these blocks; they are critical infrastructure that we really needed.”
Honourable Mavunga said the projects reflect Government’s commitment to ensuring local authorities meet minimum service delivery standards.
“It is gratifying to see the Epworth Local Board take such serious steps to address the service delivery challenges in this community. It goes a long way in ensuring that the minimum service delivery standards are met,” he said.
Epworth Local Board Town Secretary, Mr Wilton Mhandu, said the planned infrastructure would significantly improve healthcare services for the community.
“We want to start constructing a fire station and maternity theatre, which will go a long way in ensuring that we improve access to healthcare for our residents,” he said.
The event also saw the commissioning of new equipment to strengthen municipal service delivery, including a refuse compactor, a fire tender, 11 skip bins and five tricycles for waste management and recycling initiatives.
