Staff Reporter
Plans are underway to transform Maphisa Hospital into a fully operational nurse training centre, a move set to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and accelerate development, in Matabeleland South Province.
Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Albert Nguluvhe, confirmed the initiative, stating that he has engaged national authorities to expedite the process.
“I have already discovered that Maphisa has a training institute, and I have communicated to the head office that I need tutors. I want that facility in Maphisa to be fully operational. Something is already being done for Maphisa so that the hospital can start training nurses,” Minister Nguluvhe said during a recent Provincial Development Committee (PDC) meeting, in Bulawayo.
The Minister urged local leaders to swiftly compile a list of existing challenges and needs to ensure tangible progress.
Minister Nguluvhe’s announcement comes at a critical time, for Matobo district, when the healthcare system is facing some challenges.
Against this backdrop, Minister Nguluvhe used the PDC platform to issue a firm directive to Government departments, demanding faster implementation of development projects in line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
“We have been given the mandate to decide what is good for the Province. We don’t expect the President to come down and supervise us, that’s what devolution means. As long as we work within our mandate, we have not deviated,” he asserted.
The Minister warned against complacency among civil servants, stressing the need for punctuality, coordination, and community consultation before launching any initiatives.
“Let the projects emanate from the grassroots. People want service delivery, but we cannot deliver without involving them. I want this Province to move like any other Province, but with equity,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe also questioned glaring imbalances in resource allocation, citing borehole distribution as an example.
“Why should Beitbridge have 70 boreholes while Mangwe has only 20? Is that not leaving others behind?” he asked.
Dismissing the outdated notion that Matabeleland South contributes minimally to the national economy, he highlighted the province’s significant role in gold production and trade.
“We deliver nearly 40% of the country’s gold output to Fidelity Gold Refinery and host key border points like Beitbridge and Plumtree,” he noted.
Reaffirming the PDC’s importance, Minister Nguluvhe described it as a crucial space for collaborative problem-solving.
“This committee helps us align our development priorities with the needs of our communities. It’s a space for innovation and coordination—we must use it to uplift our Province,” he said.
As Matabeleland South pushes forward, the transformation of Maphisa Hospital into a nurse training centre stands as a beacon of hope, a critical step toward revitalising healthcare and fostering sustainable development in the region.
