BINGA South legislator Fanuel Cumanzala has launched a scathing attack on the Ministry of Health and Child Care, accusing the government of failing to honour long-standing independence-era promises to develop health infrastructure in Binga District.
Speaking in an interview, Cumanzala said the ministry’s recent response regarding Binga District Hospital exposed what he described as a lack of commitment, deepening concerns that the remote district continues to be marginalised.
He expressed frustration over what he said was the absence of concrete plans for the establishment of a nursing school, no clear rehabilitation programme for the hospital, and no dedicated budget allocation.
“What we are seeing is not just delay, but a continuation of decades-long neglect, that the situation reflects a pattern of systemic disregard for the district,” Cumanzala said.
The legislator said commitments to upgrade Binga’s health facilities date back to Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, noting that communities have waited more than four decades for meaningful
progress.
“The promise to develop Binga’s health infrastructure, including a School of Nursing, was made at independence. For over 40 years, our people have waited, and that promise has not been honoured,” he said.
Cumanzala argued that the Ministry’s failure to present a rehabilitation plan for Binga District Hospital raises serious questions about national priorities, saying the lack of urgency and funding cannot be dismissed as an oversight.
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“There is no plan, no budget, and no urgency. That is not an oversight; it is neglect,” he said.
He warned that continued inaction risks widening inequalities in access to healthcare and professional training, adding that residents in Binga are being denied opportunities available in other parts of the country.
“Binga deserves equal treatment. Its people should not be treated as second-class citizens,” Cumanzala said.
“Binga deserves the same level of investment as any other part of Zimbabwe,” he added.
“Our people deserve quality healthcare and opportunities to train as nurses within their own community.”
Cumanzala called on the Ministry of Health and Child Care to urgently provide a clear road map for development, including time-bound commitments, immediate funding for hospital rehabilitation, and greater transparency in
implementation.
He said the government must confront a fundamental question about its obligations to all citizens.
“The government must decide whether the promises made at independence included the people of Binga or not,” he said.
Cumanzala urged authorities to move beyond statements and deliver concrete action.
“The time for statements is over. What we need now is action,” he said.
