Gilbert Munetsi

The $1.3Zw million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation for St Mary’s constituency is set to breathe new life into St Mary’s Clinic, the oldest health facility in the township, with renovation works already underway.

The project is expected to improve the clinic’s infrastructure and enhance the delivery of healthcare services to residents of St Mary’s and surrounding communities. The health institution was built in the late 60s.

The renovation programme will include the construction of a guardroom, roofing works and the installation of a perimeter gate as part of efforts to improve the facility’s security and general outlook.

St Mary’s Clinic serves a wide catchment area encompassing St Mary’s, Zengeza and parts of Harare South, including Eyrecourt and Nyatsime, making its refurbishment a significant development for thousands of residents who rely on the facility for healthcare services.

St Mary’s legislator Brighton Mazhindu said the allocation represented a practical commitment to improving public health infrastructure and addressing the needs of communities that had depended on the clinic for years.

Mazhindu said the decision to channel the funds towards the renovation of the facility was informed by its historical significance and the critical role it continued to play in providing healthcare to residents across the constituency and beyond.

“St Mary’s Clinic is one of the oldest health institutions in our township, and it has served generations of residents. It is only fitting that we prioritise its renovation so that it can continue serving our people in a safe, secure and dignified environment,” said Mazhindu.

He added that the commencement of work was an encouraging development for the constituency, demonstrating the importance of directing public funds towards projects that have a direct impact on people’s everyday lives.

“We are pleased that work has already started. For us, this is not simply about renovating a building; it is about improving a critical public health facility that thousands of people depend on. Our communities deserve healthcare infrastructure that reflects their needs and gives them confidence when they seek medical attention,” he said.

Mazhindu said the clinic’s extensive catchment area made the project particularly important, as its services extended beyond St Mary’s to neighbouring communities, including Zengeza, Eyrecourt and Nyatsime.

“When we talk about St Mary’s Clinic, we are talking about a facility that serves a much wider population than the immediate neighbourhood. People from different parts of the constituency and surrounding areas come here for medical assistance. Improving the clinic therefore benefits a broad section of our community,” he said.

The legislator said the planned construction of a guardroom and installation of a perimeter gate would strengthen security at the facility, while the roofing works would contribute to improving the condition of the clinic’s infrastructure.

“A health institution must provide an environment in which patients, healthcare workers and visitors feel safe. The guardroom and gate are important in strengthening security, while the roofing works will help address the infrastructure needs of the clinic. These improvements are necessary if we are to preserve the facility and ensure that it continues serving the community effectively,” he said.

He added that the project reflected the broader purpose of the Constituency Development Fund, which is to support community-driven development initiatives that respond to local priorities.

“CDF must translate into tangible benefits for ordinary people. Residents should be able to point to a clinic that has been improved, a school that has been rehabilitated or another community project that has made their lives better. In this case, we are investing in a health facility that has served our people for generations, and we want the community to see the positive results of that investment,” Mazhindu said.

The MP said improving public health infrastructure was essential to building stronger communities, noting that healthcare facilities were among the most important public services residents expected their elected representatives to help improve.

He expressed optimism that the renovation would contribute to restoring confidence in the clinic and ensuring that it remained an important healthcare centre for the growing population of St Mary’s and its surrounding areas.

“Our people deserve better facilities, and this project is one step towards achieving that goal. We want St Mary’s Clinic to remain a dependable institution for both present and future generations. The work being undertaken today is an investment in the wellbeing of our community,” he said.