Doctors and nurses turn Byo clinic into a shebeen

An infectious diseases clinic in Bulawayo ward four has been turned into a sheeben by student nurses and doctors, ZimbaNews revealed.

The clinic located near Bulawayo Central Hospital has been dysfunctional for nearly two years now and the student doctors and nurses who were attached there and have no friends and relatives in Bulawayo to give them accommodation have stayed and there and used the place as a sheeben.

This was revealed in a no-holds bar feedback meeting hosted by local Councillor Mr Paul Malaba at Rio Hotel last Saturday.

Angry residents sought answers from the councillor on what council was doing about the health infrastructure in the ward.

Responding to the question Cllr Malaba said, 'I took this matter to Council and we sent our health inspectors who undertook to act on it. We are yet to get feedback from them'.

A woman identified as Pastor Esnath argued that "this is not the first time we have had such problems and government has acted. We even have churches sprouting all over in the bush in this ward and near our homes subjecting us to a lot of noise and human waste deposits. I suggest that council embarks on operation ziva kwa wakavha (know where you came from) and send these people back to where they come from" amid applause and ululation.

Another resident only identified as Mpofu asked the councillor to spell out the council strategy on health.

"You just presented a progress report on the construction of the clinic near Leeside in this ward whilst we all know that most council clinics are closing down and being leased out. Why should we be building new clinics if we are failing to maintain existing ones." charged Mpofu.

Cllr Malaba argued that the new clinic was not a council project but a residents' initiative to be administered by a residents' trust.