Johnson Progress

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has told council that the city’s clinics are outdated and failing to meet modern health standards, urging urgent investment to refurbish facilities and complete projects that have stalled for years.

Speaking at a recent full council meeting, Mafume said the condition of municipal health institutions is not keeping pace with current infrastructure and service delivery expectations.

He pointed to recent work at a major referral hospital as an example the city should emulate, and stressed that council-run clinics must be brought up to modern levels of computerisation, ambience and other key standards.

The mayor praised improvements carried out at Parirenyatwa Hospital and said the city should follow that model.

He noted that the work done there was of a high standard, and argued that Harare’s own clinics and facilities need similar upgrades so they do not lag behind.

“The work that was done at Parirenyatwa was excellent, and I think we need to follow suit with our clinics and facilities so that they join the modern age in terms of computerisation, ambience and other key standards, so that we do not fall behind,” Mafume said.

He also highlighted the need for council to make refurbishment of health institutions a priority, with particular emphasis on finishing buildings that have remained incomplete despite being near completion for years.

Mafume singled out Wilkins Hospital, which he said has long been reported as almost finished but is still not operating.

The mayor urged council to act decisively on the matter.

He said the city must refurbish its facilities and, above all, bring Wilkins Hospital into service after years of delay.

“We need to follow suit and refurbish our facilities and, more importantly, finish the hospital at Wilkins, which has always been said to be 98 percent complete but is still not operational,” he said.

Mafume’s comments come amid growing concern over the state of primary health care in Harare, where residents have repeatedly complained about dilapidated infrastructure, lack of equipment and long waiting times at council clinics.

Many of the city’s polyclinics were built decades ago and have not received major upgrades, leaving them ill-equipped to handle modern patient loads and record-keeping needs.

The reference to computerisation reflects pressure on local authorities to digitise patient records and improve data management, while the mention of ambience points to basic issues such as lighting, ventilation and waiting areas that affect patient experience.

By invoking Parirenyatwa’s recent renovations, Mafume set a benchmark for what council facilities should aspire to, rather than continuing with patchwork maintenance.

Wilkins Hospital has been a long-standing symbol of stalled public health projects in the capital.

Reports that it is 98 percent complete have circulated for years, yet the facility remains closed, forcing residents to rely on overstretched clinics and central hospitals for care.

Mafume’s call to finish the hospital suggests frustration within council over the pace of delivery on a project that could ease pressure on existing services.

Council officials have previously cited funding constraints and bureaucratic delays as reasons for unfinished health projects.

However, Mafume’s remarks signal a push to reprioritise health infrastructure in the city’s budget and project pipeline.

The mayor’s intervention also places pressure on council departments responsible for infrastructure and health services to present clear plans for refurbishment and completion timelines.

With residents facing challenges accessing quality primary care, the state of council clinics has become a political issue that the city leadership cannot afford to ignore.

As Harare grapples with population growth and increased demand for health services, Mafume’s call for modernisation and urgent completion of Wilkins Hospital sets the tone for council’s health agenda in the coming months.

Whether council can mobilise the resources and political will to act remains the next test for the city’s leadership.