Binga- Member of Parliament for Binga South, Fanuel Cumanzala, has called on the Ministry of Health to take urgent action to address longstanding disparities in healthcare infrastructure and training opportunities in the district.

The appeal follows a recent response from the Ministry that did not include plans for a School of Nursing, rehabilitation of Binga District Hospital, or a dedicated budget for the area.

Cumanzala said the Ministry’s reply reflects a pattern of neglect that has persisted since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, when a commitment was made to develop health facilities in Binga, including a nursing school.

“What we are seeing is not just delay, but a continuation of decades-long neglect,” Cumanzala said. “The promise to develop Binga’s health infrastructure, including a School of Nursing, was made at independence in 1980. For over 40 years, our people have waited. That promise has not been honoured.”

He noted that the absence of a rehabilitation plan for the district hospital raises concerns about how government prioritises resources across regions.

“There is no plan, no budget, and no urgency,” he said. “While other districts are progressing, Binga remains left behind.”

The legislator warned that continued inaction risks deepening inequalities in access to healthcare and local training opportunities. He said residents of Binga deserve the same level of investment as other parts of Zimbabwe.

Cumanzala is demanding a clear, time-bound roadmap for establishing a School of Nursing, immediate allocation of funds for hospital rehabilitation, and full transparency on implementation.

“The time for statements is over,” he said. “What we need now is action.”

Binga district, located in rural Matabeleland North province along the shores of Lake Kariba, is one of Zimbabwe’s most remote and underserved areas. The district has long faced severe health challenges, including a critical shortage of doctors and nurses, frequent drug stockouts, and limited access to emergency transport due to poor road networks.

Many villagers travel more than 50 kilometres to reach the nearest clinic, and Binga District Hospital, the only major referral facility in the area, has fallen into disrepair with broken equipment, inadequate wards, and irregular water and electricity supply.

Maternal and child mortality rates in the district remain above national averages, and the absence of a local nursing school forces aspiring health workers to leave the area, contributing to chronic staffing shortages.