Lack of health facilities upsets resettled farmers

Fourteen years after the controversial land grab, thousands of the fast-track farmers in ward 21 of Insiza North are without access to health and decent education facilities, the situation a local headman said was further aggravated by continued failure by recently fired Zanu PF Member of Parliament Andrew Langa to priorities issues of concern.

“Residents in the entire Debshan Ranches are crying the loudest, apart experiencing poor water and sanitation,there are no health and education facilities, MP Langa working towards self-development than the development of the area,” said the headman on conditions of anonymity.

Investigations by this publication revealed that lack of clinics has had a negative bearing on the lives of people in the resettlement areas, particularly women and children.

‘’ Life this side is very tough, when a member of the family get ill, eeish, there would be a big task. We have to wake up very early around four o’clock to go and fetch water at an unprotected well which is 5km away. Normally we come back after two hours and we have to prepare to go to a very far away clinic.We are in danger because if someone is bitten by a snake, he or she might die before reaching the clinic”, Wayne Mangena from 47 Brown farm.

Our news crew realized that nearest health institutions in the resettlement areas were between 15 and 30 km.

He said what made the situation worse was that there is no public transport which meant people from areas like Mhulula had to walk the long distances to seek health services.

Most resettlement areas are yet to have facilities such as clinics and schools.

Lunia Siziba from Mpalawani area said life in the resettlement areas is very difficult because of lack of basic facilities such as clinics, schools and at times shops.

She said lack of clinics affected especially expectant mothers who had to walk long distances to seek antenatal care services who at times deliver by the roadside.

“We depend on far away clinics, Mapanzure in Zvishavane and Dorset in Shurugwi. Expectant mothers are living life of hell as they have to walk long distances to the nearest clinic, “said the seemingly touched Siziba adding that expectant mothers were supposed to visit the clinics regularly for checkups after every two weeks for antenatal care services.

The middle aged Siziba said traditional midwives were playing a critical role as many women were giving birth at home in Mpalawani, Gwamanyanga and Hwavayi mountain areas.

The councilor for Ward 21 Mr Mavorera Masukume said the lack of basic facilities such as clinics was adversely affecting resettled families.

He said his ward had about 1 500 families but did not have a clinic so the people had to walk long distances to seek health services.

“The community is working on plans to convert a farm house into a clinic. “During his term of office Member of Parliament Cde Andrew Langa gave them paint and some funds to refurbish the farm house.” he said.