By Loyd Matare
Mayor of Harare, Councillor Jacob Mafume, says the city’s partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe in a US$1 million project will transform and upgrade council-run health facilities across Harare.
Speaking to AfroGazette news after meeting the Swiss Ambassador to Zimbabwe at Town House, Mafume said the collaboration aims to transform the city’s health services from basic primary care to advanced medical support, bringing critical diagnostic and treatment services closer to communities.
“We are upgrading health services of the city to beyond primary health care.
“We are going to buy an MRI machine, various diagnostic equipment, and upgrade the theatre at Mabvuku Polyclinic to make sure that it is a 24-hour casualty hospital,” he said.
From Primary Care to Advanced Health Services
Mafume said the project will modernize council-run health centres, allowing them to handle cases such as cancer, kidney problems, and other complex conditions that often burden national referral hospitals.
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“We are now moving from just providing primary health care to providing other health care that deals with cancers, kidney problems, and other chronic illnesses,” he said.
“This will relieve pressure from central government hospitals and make operations accessible within communities, at a sustainable and cheaper cost.”
He revealed that the city’s Mabvuku Polyclinic will be one of the key beneficiaries, with plans to upgrade its theatre and expand operations to handle emergencies round the clock.
“As a city, we assist in the birth of over 2,500 babies per month,” Mafume said.
“Our citizens are hard at work making sure that our population doesn’t die, and we must support that by improving our infrastructure and the capacity of our staff.”
Complementing Central Government Efforts
The mayor emphasized that the initiative complements national health programs under the Ministry of Health and Child Care, particularly those aligned with NDS1, NDS2, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are never in versus with the central government,” Mafume explained.
“We complement the national government on ARV distribution, on cholera, on COVID-19, and on other infectious diseases. Harare’s role is to strengthen and support national health efforts.”
Swiss Support for Local Health Systems
Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Harare, Stefano Berti, praised the partnership, saying Switzerland was committed to supporting health development at the local level.
“We are happy to engage directly with cities like Harare for this very important objective,” Berti said.
“Health is fundamental, and it’s very important for us to support you, Mr. Mayor.
“Everything seems to be on track, and we look forward to signing this agreement soon and monitoring its implementation over the next two years.”
A Lifeline for City Healthcare
Mafume described the upcoming investment as a game-changer for the city’s health delivery system.
“This is not chicken change…it’s nearly a million US dollars,” he said.
“It will have a huge impact on how we deliver health services to the people of Harare. Affordable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare is not a privilege it’s our duty.”
