Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (ZIMPLATS) has given Mhondoro Rural Hospital a much-needed uplift and constructed an operating theatre among other critically needed amenities.
The platinum giant yesterday handed over the newly constructed facilities which were commissioned by President Mnangagwa at an event attended by thousands in Mubaira 100km from Harare.
In his speech and the handover ceremony, ZIMPLATS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Alex Mhembere said since commencing operations two decades ago the platinum giant has invested over 200 million U. S. Dollars or an average of $10 million per annum in Community Social Responsibility (CSR) Programs.
“We commenced our operation just two decades ago and in that period we have invested over 200 million U. S. Dollars, or an average of $10 million a year on community social responsibility programs and this resonates very well with our value of creating shared value for all our stakeholders in our program for community investment,” Mhembere said.
He said ZIMPLATS is committed to the well-being and development of the communities the company operates from.
“We follow four pillars that guide us in that process, which are health and community well-being, education and skills development, enterprise development and income generation projects and infrastructure development through the minerals that we produce and the way we do business. Our purpose of creating a better future for stakeholders is fulfilled through the investments that we make in the area of Community and Social Responsibilities program.
He said the company spent $1 million to upgrade the 80-year-old hospital which serves 18 satellite districts.
“The project was funded to the tune of $1 million and resulted in a number of affluence of this hospital to make it an all-encompassing job institution. Established in the 1940s, the hospital currently serves about 18 satellite districts under its umbrella.
He said the company’s involvement started in 2020 after the request by Mhondoro Ngezi Member of Parliament Freddy Kapuya to revamp the ageing infrastructure.
“Our involvement with the Mhondoro Rural District Hospital was started in 2020 through the efforts of Honourable for this area, Comrade Kapuya, who requested us to revamp the infrastructure”
“We responded to his request by making the following interventions constructing a laundry facility complete with washing machines and a dryer, construction of modern outpatient absolution facilities and a new staff kitchen of the canteen. Construction of and equipping of a new mortuary, sinking of a new borehole and reticulation to supply water to the hospital, refurbishment of the hospital’s main building and maternity home and the renovation of the administration office,” Mhembere said.
ZIMPLATS then returned to the hospital for phase two of the hospital refurbishment which saw the miner constructing a theatre and staff accommodation.
“We thought we had gone past the stage of dealing with Mhondoro Rural District Hospital but alas that was not the end. We came back again and requested that for phase two we focus on the construction of a theatre and construction of accommodation for a doctor and theatre system” Mhembere said
The construction and upgrades were done by Green Life, Greenville Toastone Trading and Dostaro which are all locally-based SMEs.
Speaking at the occasion President Mnangagwa commended the public-private partnerships in the country’s quest to realise health and the overall well-being of Zimbabweans.
“These projects attest to the importance of public-private partnerships in our quest to realise health and the overall well-being of our people as outlined in our Constitution and the National Development Strategy. Here at the Hospital, ZIMPLATS through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme has constructed and equipped a new theatre, staff accommodation and laundry facility. A borehole has also been drilled as well as the maternity ward refurbished and equipped, among various other works. These interventions are most appreciated and will go a long way towards enhancing access by our communities to quality health services and our country’s targets for achieving Universal Health Coverage,” President Mnangagwa said.