THE Second Republic has stepped up efforts to modernise public infrastructure and combat social challenges.

This emerged during a high-level ministerial tour of the Second Republic’s flagship projects led by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere in Harare this Wednesday.

The ministers visited Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, where major renovations are underway as part of government-led efforts to modernise Zimbabwe’s public health facilities under Vision 2030.

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, outlined the scope of the ongoing works.

“Government is on a programme to refurbish all our health facilities throughout the country. We were directed to start with Parirenyatwa Hospital and it has three programmes that are running concurrently. We have the Mbuya Nehanda maternity wing, the Nurses Training School which is also under refurbishment and the nurses’ accommodation. The refurbishment programme is inclusive of all the social amenities that are here. We have also looked at the water and sewer reticulation system for the entire facility and the contractor was telling us that it is completely under refurbishment.

He revealed that the new water and sewer systems will be fully operational by September, while the training school will be ready by September 1, the nurses’ accommodation by the end of October, and the maternity wing by year-end.

“This entire refurbishment will be completed by December 2025, and we are happy with the progress and the quality of work that we are witnessing as it speaks to our national aspirations under Vision 2030, to achieve an upper-middle-income economy with facilities that meet global standards,” he added.

From Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the delegation went to the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Mbare, established by the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.

The facility offers holistic rehabilitation for up to 200 individuals, blending medical treatment, counselling, education and structured physical activity, all free of charge.

“This programme was opened on July 12, with the intention of rehabilitation. All along Angel of Hope has been doing some awareness campaigns and decided that it is time to rehabilitate those who are already using drugs.”

Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora praised the collaboration, emphasising the facility’s role in supporting Zimbabwe’s multi‑sectoral drug and substance abuse plan (2024–2030) and urged communities across the nation to replicate such interventions.

“This is very impressive, especially that they are complementing government efforts in tackling this scourge of drug and substance abuse. We have always been advocating for partnerships with anyone in Zimbabwe who wants to help build Zimbabwe. This institution, which has been created and was opened last month in July, is an example that Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo. We want to thank the First Lady, for coming up with this idea. I now urge every Zimbabwean to copy and try and come up with such centres, because these challenges are all over the country.”

Dr Jenfan Muswere commended the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre for its leadership in tackling drug and substance abuse, urging collective national action to support Zimbabwe’s multi-sectoral strategy.

“We are conducting a provincial media tour in our metropolitan province. We started with the perennial group of hospitals and now we have the Angel of Hope centre which primarily focuses on the eradication of drug and substance abuse in line with the multi-sectorial plan on drug and substance abuse running from 2024 to 2030 with clear guidelines in terms of harm reduction, demand reduction, supply reduction, but also composed of several committees including the media and communications committee. Vision 2030 is a collective responsibility that every Zimbabwean, every organisation in Zimbabwe and internationally should work together with the government of Zimbabwe to keep this menace,” he said.

“We are more than grateful to the Angel of Hope for the great work that they have done in terms of counselling services, psychosocial support, sporting facilities and the provision of free services to all Zimbabweans as we fight this menace which is affecting the growth of our economy,” he said.

The facility represents more than bricks and beds, it is a wave of hope, redefining rehabilitation in Zimbabwe. A place where recovery is tangible, dignity is restored, and a place where futures are rewritten – one life at a time.