Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. FOR Peter Kachirika from Chisango village in Mutoko’s ward 5 walking 14 kilometres rather than waiting for 14 years for the opening of a health centre is nothing as he joins others excitedly headed towards Gurure village for the grand opening of its first ever health centre.
Perched in short grass and some shrubs but clear enough around a curve, along a winding dusty road, up and down dale on sparsely forested hills, with black granite trucks coming from opposite directions, a cement post sign suddenly points to the entrance to Gurure Clinic.
Delegates in 4×4 vehicles with stakeholder partners from government departments and non-governmental organisations seem to briefly outshine the excited crowd arriving in determined trickles to the impressive ceremony.
Beyond the signpost and the entrance to the health facility, all delegates in vehicles or on foot, head towards a solitary and modestly built structure resembling a classroom block, 500 metres ahead.
From that distance, the voices of ‘early birds’ eagerly greet the arriving guests to the grand occasion.
With the only nearest two clinics, Katsukunya and Chindenga, 20 kilometres away, ward 5 leaders and private mining companies were thrust into the spotlight, especially with reports of millions of dollars being made from sales of black granite stone, emerging.
The path to this great day was far from easy, as the gathered community and some of the first patients to be treated at the new health facility shared stories of resilience and obstacles.
“It has taken so long to complete this clinic, despite the millions of dollars we hear are being made from extracting black granite stone from our environment,” Kachirika is heard saying from a group of men standing by.
“Perhaps it was due to lack of understanding of how such projects are started and finished, as we thought mining companies and their influential partners were responsible”, chipped in another, trying to throw some light.
Calling the joyous gathering to order, headman Samuel Kadiki (77) summed up the sentiment perfectly during his keynote remarks.
“Although old, but not ill, I will be the first one to have my injection here,” he quipped to a joyous applause.
“This clinic represents what’s possible when a community stands united and refuses to be silenced,” he proclaimed, his voice swelling with emotion.
“We remained steadfast in our commitment, because we knew this was a fight for the future of our families’ health and our community’s rightful way of life,” he said, breaking into a popular hymn with the gathering excitedly singing along.
For the women of ward 5, the opening of the clinic was meaningful, emotional and powerful. Many recalled the painful experiences of almost giving birth along the way to distant clinics.
“The new clinic has significantly reduced the distance for us to access essential maternal healthcare,” said Chido, a young mother beaming with relief.
“It has made childbirth safer and more benign”, she noted.
“This clinic now means everything to us,” said ward 5 councillor Mubayiwa Mahara, his voice brimming with relief and pride.
“For years, we’ve had to travel hours to access basic healthcare in Katsukunya and Chindenga. Now we finally have this vital asset right here in our community,” he said proudly.
“The mining companies didn’t seem interested in fulfilling their pledges to the community,” said Manjoro Chawapiwa, a resident who watched the clinic’s construction drag on for over a decade.
“Residents came to a point of believing that they were consciously trying to deny us this vital resource and only interested in siphoning out our black granite,” he lamented.
The gathering heard that the community remained determined not to be silenced. In this endeavour, the community turned to Silveira House, a respected non-governmental organisation working in the district for some years.
The esteemed organisation started policy and community-led advocacy efforts in ward 5 back in 2012, after recognising the need for improved stakeholder collaboration in local development and in particular in view of the growing mining practices in the district.
During a presentation, the district development committee representative noted that Silveira House spearheaded a multi-pronged advocacy campaign, working closely with local leaders and leveraging on stakeholder collaboration to amplify the community’s voice.
He said in its diversified approach, it also engaged communities on how to be peaceable negotiators during disputes and how to engage mining companies in bringing about improved local development.
“The path to this clinic was long and arduous, requiring immense time, resources, and unwavering determination,” said Chief Felix Gwariwa in his closing remarks.
“But the community remained steadfast in its commitment, because it knew this clinic represented the power of a united community that refuses to be silenced,” he said.
Stakeholders agreed that mining companies must be held accountable for their social and environmental impacts. Without mandatory corporate social responsibility, communities need to negotiate binding, time-limited agreements to ensure mining operations are conducted responsibly and sustainably.
“Communities must have a seat at the table to negotiate enforceable terms that protect their resources and livelihoods,” said Zandile Mvududu, Silveira House’s projects manager, in an interview.
Initially, the community did not want to engage the Mutoko Rural District Council, preferring to handle the project directly with the mining companies. But over time, they realised the importance of working with local authorities to provide oversight and support. With Silveira House’s proactive guidance, the community eventually understood the value of a collaborative approach, where the community, council and mining companies could work together towards a common goal.
As the mining operations continue to grow around the district, the opening of Gurure Clinic serves as a blueprint for other marginalised communities seeking to assert their rights and shape their development priorities, demonstrating the power of citizen engagement and collective determination.
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