Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE Second Republic rural electrification programme continues to transform communities, with Gatawa Clinic in Lower Gweru being the latest institution to benefit from the initiative, a catalyst to rural industrialisation.
Located some 80 kilometres West of the City of Gweru, Gatawa Clinic is the latest beneficiary of government’s rural electrification project being spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
The latest development is sweet music to the ears of the health facility staff and the community, who are anticipating better working conditions and improved health services.
“We did not have a conducive facility to keep vaccines, to maintain required temperatures. We have been using gas, which was a bit expensive and not so reliable. Now, with this development, we are going to improve our services.
“We had no light facility here when performing our night duties, and now we can perform our procedures well. We did not have even power for cooking. Even our patients, we can be able to take care of them because we are now capacitated,” said Gatawa Clinic Sister in Charge, Sister Muchazondida Mapomba.
“I want to thank stakeholders for programme on behalf of the Gatawa community. I want to thank our President Emmerson Mnangagwa for always remembering us.
“This has elevated our community, and we hope services here will improve, given that we have had some challenges when expecting mothers want to give birth using candles, which was not conducive,” said a community member.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has pledged to continue empowering previously marginalised communities through an array of power-generating projects.
“We are currently doing grid electricity projects, biogas, and institutional solar programmes across the rural communities. Now we have just launched a solar home programme which targets all stakeholders without electricity.
“We are targeting 1,8 million households by 2030 to ensure they have electricity. We are spearheading this project through school children and parliament for them to know how the community can have access to the facility. Everyone is capable of getting the solar system depending on their scheme,” explained REA Public Relations Executive, Mr Johannes Nyamayedenga.
Midlands Minister of State for Devolution and Provincial Affairs, Honourable Owen Ncube, said the government is making deliberate efforts to ensure rural communities get access to power in line with the National Development Strategy One.
“These are part of the works of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. We are here in Lower Gweru where the President has sent me to witness this development being spearheaded by the Second Republic.
“The President has been on record, saying we want everyone, even in rural areas, to have electricity. Today’s occasion is another milestone achievement by the Second Republic, under the able leadership of our visionary leader as we pursue to achieve rural industrialisation earlier than 2030,” he said.
In the Midlands province, REA has connected more than 956 institutions covering schools, traditional leaders’ homesteads, and other critical facilities.
The electrification of Gatawa clinic is part of government’s rural industrialisation drive aimed at supporting communities and enhancing health care standards across the country.
