By Kuda Pembere in Goromonzi
A new maternity waiting home at Masikandoro Clinic in Goromonzi District is being hailed a timely and life-saving development, providing expectant mothers with a safe place to stay as they await delivery—especially in a community grappling with maternal and neonatal mortality, poor road infrastructure, and long travel distances to health facilities.
Located in Ward 1 of Goromonzi West Constituency, the waiting home was constructed over a period of three months.
It was built under the project titled:“Supporting Peaceful, Safe, and Sustainable Reintegration for Returning Migrants and Host Communities in Zimbabwe Impacted by the Non-Renewal of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP)”. The initiative was led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and implemented by Zimbabwe Food for the Hungry International (ZFHI).
Speaking during the official handover ceremony, Goromonzi West legislator Hon. Beatrice Nyamupinga expressed her appreciation to the Korean Government for funding the initiative.
I want to thank the Korean Ambassador who responded to the urgent needs identified by the District Development Committee. I also commend the builders who completed the project in just three months, and the headman and councillor who worked tirelessly to make it a reality. Most importantly, I thank the community for taking ownership of this facility. Today, we are gathered here to celebrate the official opening of this maternity waiting home,” she said.
Hon. Nyamupinga highlighted the importance of the facility in addressing maternal and neonatal health challenges.
“This is an issue close to my heart. We were losing many mothers and babies because expectant mothers arrived at the clinic too late. Sometimes, they would be in labor while still far from the facility. By the time they arrived—often on a scotch cart—both mother and baby were exhausted, leading to complications.
“With this waiting home, women in their third trimester can stay close to care, supported by their spouses or relatives. There’s no longer a reason we should continue losing lives,” she added.
Korean Ambassador to Zimbabwe, PARK Jae Kyung, said the core of the project was fostering harmony and inclusion.
“This is the very essence of the project: that returnees and host communities live together in peace and solidarity. That was the commitment between my embassy, my government, and the UN agency IOM.
“This is friendship and solidarity, and I hope it continues. While it may appear we are here to give, I want to emphasize—we are also here to receive. You are giving us something too.
“I’m already very happy—my heart is filled with joy and excitement from your smiling faces, your songs, and your dances,” he said.
Traditional leader Chief Chinamhora urged the community to make full use of the facility and addressed the persistent issue of child marriages.
“This facility is intended for mothers aged 18 and above. I do not expect to see girls aged 12, 17, or younger using it. Goromonzi is unfortunately known for child marriages and teenage pregnancies, which is unacceptable. Let Ward 1 be an example—parents must not marry off their children before they turn 18. This home should not be misused to encourage underage pregnancies,” he warned.
Sister-in-Charge at Masikandoro Clinic, Alice Machaka, said the new maternity waiting home will significantly reduce home births, which are prevalent due to long travel distances and poor road networks.
“Masikandoro Clinic serves 42 villages in Ward 1, including Nyakudya and Showground. Some mothers even come from outside our catchment area. Many women were giving birth at home or on the way to the clinic. We had more home deliveries than those at the clinic. Years ago, the community began molding bricks for this purpose—and now, thanks to this timely intervention, the waiting home has been completed. It will help reduce home deliveries, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths,” she said.
Grace Eunchong Ham, Project Manager from ZFHI, noted that the initiative benefits 239 individuals—half of them returnees from South Africa and the other half members of the host community.
Dr. Thomas Kalasani of IOM added that the project was part of a US$3 million grant from the Korean Government to support both returning migrants and local residents.
“The maternity waiting home was constructed based on needs identified through community consultations. Under Outcome 2 of this project, our goal is to promote social stability, increase socio-economic opportunities, and strengthen the psychosocial well-being of returnees and host communities.
“To achieve this, IOM partnered with ZFHI to implement asset-creation projects across four districts: Mberengwa, Goromonzi, Buhera, and Epworth. These initiatives focus on small-scale, community-driven infrastructure that addresses local priorities through participatory planning,” he explained.
