In the pic,Medical outreach team members, war veterans leadership and some patients at Masasa Clinic, in Ward 22, Buhera Central Constituency.
By Edson Mapani
The Manicaland Province War Veterans League, under the chairmanship of Cde Linda Florence Mathathu, which is on a whirlwind tour of the province, was in Buhera Central Constituency, where war veterans and the elderly were provided with free healthcare assistance.
The war veterans-led programme, dubbed the “Presidential War Veterans Medical Outreach Programme,” is being supported by the Presidential Special Advisor on Investment and Empowerment, Dr Paul Tungwarara.
Zanu PF Manicaland Province War Veterans League Chairman Cde Mathathu reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that veterans of the liberation struggle receive the much-needed health assistance and expressed gratitude to President ED Mnangagwa for the noble programme.
“Today we are in Buhera Central Constituency, and we extend our gratitude to President ED Mnangagwa for this programme, not forgetting our host, the Member of Parliament, Honourable Sam Matema, for ensuring the flawless execution of this exercise.
I also want to thank our sponsors. Buhera Central Constituency is the fourth constituency to get this crucial service, and we look forward to being in many constituencies of our province, assisting fellow comrades who are not feeling well. We also want to thank the doctors and nurses who volunteered to partner us in this exercise. Keep on doing the good work, and God bless you,” she said.
Cde Mucharweyi Mashingaidze, whose nom de guerre was Chris Taungana, aged 72, and who operated in Gaza Province during the Second Chimurenga, was upbeat after receiving treatment.
“I want to convey my sincere gratitude to President ED Mnangagwa for bringing this programme to us. We have received medical assistance close by. I also want to thank our legislator, Hon Sam Matema, for the provision of transport to ferry people from different locations within our constituency to come here at Masasa Clinic,” he said.
The Provincial War Veterans Secretary for Transport and Welfare, who also hails from Buhera District, Cde Nelson Mahamba, also added his voice, thanking President ED Mnangagwa, Provincial Chairman Cde Mathathu and Hon Matema for the successful programme.
“Firstly, I want to thank President ED Mnangagwa and our Provincial Chairman Cde Mathathu for making arrangements with medical personnel, which has seen them coming here to Buhera for the Presidential War Veterans Medical Outreach Programme.
Our Member of Parliament, Hon Sam Matema, played a crucial part in terms of logistical support towards this exercise. It will be gratifying to see this programme spreading to all constituencies since we have a lot of comrades who are not feeling well and in need of medical assistance,” he said.
Dr Alpha Pokuzvirevera, who was the medical outreach programme team leader, said they felt duty-bound, as patriotic children of war veterans, to voluntarily assist their parents, who are now advanced in age and prone to health complications, as a way of thanking them for the priceless work they did to liberate the country.
“Today we are in Buhera Central Constituency, which is under Honourable Sam Matema. As medical personnel who are also sons and daughters of war veterans, we understand that the freedom that we enjoy today did not come on a silver platter, but came after a protracted armed struggle.
It is because of this that we positively acquiesced to the request from the War Veterans League to partner with them in providing assistance to our war veterans. Let me also hasten to thank President ED Mnangagwa, through his Special Advisor on Investment and Empowerment, Dr Paul Tungwarara, for providing the funding to roll out the programme, with the target being to go around all the constituencies in our province to assist our parents,” he said.
Dr Pokuzvirevera, however, noted that as a team, they encountered challenges in failing to cover all the corners of the constituency and the unavailability of some drugs that were prescribed for their patients.
Meanwhile, Dr Pokuzvirevera said their prayer was for the programme to continue, with more time and resources allocated for follow-up visits.