In a milestone development that will be recorded in the history of Zimbabwe, a state-of-the-art telemedicine facility was today launched at Munyokowere Village in Ward 5, Mutema Musikavanhu Constituency, bringing lifelong health services to the doorstep of one of the country’s deepest rural communities.
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Read E-PaperThe initiative, championed by local legislator and Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Angeline Gata, under the visionary leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, also saw the introduction of the first-ever Mudhumeni WeUtano – trained community healthcare footsoldiers who will drive local health promotion.
Hundreds of community members thronged the event, a clear demonstration of the urgent need for accessible healthcare services in the area.
The turnout showed the significance of the facility, which will drastically reduce walking distances for critical health services that have long been a barrier for rural communities.
Unlike a ceremonial commissioning, this telemedicine clinic is a life-saving facility where medical practitioners from local and international health institutions will interact with patients virtually, delivering the best of health services without requiring patients to travel long distances.
Central to the programme’s sustainability are the Mudhumeni WeUtano community health footsoldiers, with hundreds already undergoing ND have completed training to become the frontline of healthcare delivery in their communities.
These trained personnel will receive emergency medical toolkits, including blood pressure testing machines, enabling them to provide essential health services at the village level.
The launch forms part of the National Health Strategy (2026-2030), which feeds into the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the broader Vision 2030 of leaving no one and no place behind. The strategy aims to achieve universal health coverage, improve life expectancy from 64.7 to 70 years and reduce maternal and under-five mortality.
This milestone development has significantly increased community confidence in President Mnangagwa’s leadership, with residents describing him as a leader who prioritises community health. The initiative embodies the Second Republic’s philosophy of “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo”-a nation is built by its own people-through active community participation in driving local development.
Addressing the thousands gathered, Hon. Gata said that the programme was about bringing quality healthcare closer to the people.
“Today is nothing but bringing quality healthcare closer to our people to our community of Mutema Musikavanhu in Munyokowere Village Ward 5. As you know that for many people in rural communities, distance can be a barrier to accessing healthcare. So today we have brought medical practitioners into the community to provide free health services.”
She said the importance of the telemedicine component in ensuring that the benefits of the medical outreach extended beyond a single day.
“But what makes this programme particularly important is the telemedicine component. The medical camp addresses today’s needs, but telemedicine is about tomorrow. We do not want to provide services today and then leave people with the same challenges tomorrow. We want to create a bridge between this community and the wider health system. The sustainability of efforts.”
She further aligned the initiative with the Government’s broader development agenda, stressing that development must be felt by ordinary people.
“This is also very much aligned with Government’s development agenda, particularly NDS2 and Vision 2030. We talk about leaving no one and no place behind, but ultimately those words must be felt by ordinary people. Nyika yedu ye Mutema Musikavanhu inovakwa ngavanikazi vayo isusu VaNdau.”
For villagers like Mai Tendai Moyo, a mother of three, the facility represents a future where her children will not suffer the same challenges she has endured.
“For years we have travelled long distances to access health services. Some of our children have suffered because we could not reach clinics on time. Today, we are seeing the future right here in our village. This facility means our children will have a chance to grow up healthy. What Hon. Gata and President Mnangagwa have done for us is beyond our expectations.”
Hundreds of trainees like Mr. Farai Chikwanda have been equipped to become the first responders in their communities, ensuring that healthcare is not just accessible but also sustainable.
“I have been trained to be a community healthcare footsoldier alongside hundreds of others from this constituency. I will now be the first point of contact for health issues in my community. We have received emergency toolkits including BP testing machines that will help us save lives.
This is not just a job, it is my duty to ensure my neighbours and family receive the health information and support they need. I am proud to be part of this history.”
Concluding the event, Hon. Gata reaffirmed that this is what true development looks like for rural communities.
“For me, this is what development looks like-bringing services closer to people, using technology to overcome geographical barriers and investing in healthier and more productive communities.”
The free medical outreach programme, which preceded the launch, ended on a positive tone, with thousands receiving much-needed health services.
The telemedicine facility now ensures that the benefits of that outreach are not a one-off event but a permanent lifeline for the community.
The Government is working towards creating 32 000 new health sector posts by 2030 and modernising health infrastructure across the country as part of its commitment to accessible healthcare for all.
