DELAYS in the construction of the long-awaited Lupane Provincial Hospital have ignited fresh political debate, with critics linking the stalled project to broader governance and policy priorities.
In a strongly worded opinion, Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokele said the failure to complete the Matabeleland North provincial hospital highlights “everything that is horribly wrong” with the government’s current focus, particularly in relation to the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill.
Molokele said he recently observed a campaign billboard in Lupane claiming the hospital had been completed as part of government achievements ahead of the 2023 elections, a claim he dismissed as false.
“There has not been a provincial hospital that has been constructed yet in Matabeleland North. Not now. Not ever,” he said.
The province, he added, remains without a fully functional provincial hospital more than four decades after independence, forcing residents to rely on facilities such as St Luke’s Hospital, which currently serves both as a district and de facto provincial referral centre.
Molokele said the situation undermines the constitutional right to health, arguing that communities in the region continue to face limited access to adequate medical care.
Many residents, he noted, are forced to seek treatment in neighbouring provinces such as Bulawayo or even cross borders into countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
According to Molokele, visits to the construction site in February revealed little to no activity, with the area appearing “abandoned” and guarded only by security personnel.
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He argued that the slow pace of progress reflects misplaced national priorities, urging authorities to focus on completing critical infrastructure rather than pursuing political reforms.
“Logic demands that more energy and resources be invested towards completing the hospital than being obsessed with staying in power,” he said.
Beyond the hospital project, Molokele highlighted several other infrastructure developments in Matabeleland North that have faced prolonged delays, including the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, Lupane State University, the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls and the Bulawyo-Nkayi Roads.
Government officials have previously maintained that infrastructure development remains a priority and that no region will be left behind, although timelines for the completion of several projects have not been clearly outlined.
The debate over Lupane Hospital comes amid broader national discussions about development priorities, service delivery and constitutional reforms, with analysts warning that delays in key public services could deepen regional inequalities if not urgently addressed.
