The Citizen Bulletin

The Citizen Bulletin We’re an independent, nonprofit digital news outlet serving news and information needs of Matabeleland’s marginalized populations.

Our model of journalism is not to pulse with breaking news; rather we focus on rigor and nuance and dive deep into long-form hyperlocal reporting that cuts through the noise.

Years ago, wild pigs contaminated the very riverbed wells that Mbizha families depended on for survival . Today, clean w...
14/08/2026

Years ago, wild pigs contaminated the very riverbed wells that Mbizha families depended on for survival . Today, clean water infrastructure allows local residents to run a safe, productive community piggery project that creates livelihoods . Talk about a full-circle moment! What other creative projects can clean water unlock?

Read the full story:https://thecitizenbulletin.news/series-story/when-the-wells-ran-dry/

In Mbizha, drought forced families to dig for water in dry riverbeds and share it with animals. Today, access to clean water is changing far more than how they live.

Is 'relief' enough, or should there be full compensation for human-wildlife conflict victims? Lawmakers called the 2025 ...
14/08/2026

Is 'relief' enough, or should there be full compensation for human-wildlife conflict victims? Lawmakers called the 2025 Act a 'missed opportunity' for not offering full compensation . Where do you stand? ReadMore:https://thecitizenbulletin.news/series-story/his-last-walk-home/

Mbusi Mabhena never made it home. Months after a new law promised greater protection for communities affected by human-wildlife conflict, many of its key safeguards remain unimplemented.

14/08/2026

Clean water changes far more than what we drink. Since the Ndimakule Solar-Powered Water Scheme was launched, diarrhoea cases have plummeted. At the local primary school, kids no longer miss lessons to fetch water Why is clean water the ultimate foundation for education and health? Share your thoughts below!

Read the full story: https://thecitizenbulletin.news/series-story/when-the-wells-ran-dry/

In Mbizha, drought forced families to dig for water in dry riverbeds and share it with animals. Today, access to clean water is changing far more than how they live.

A Member of Parliament killed in a highway collision with an elephant. A villager killed on his walk home from a bus sto...
14/08/2026

A Member of Parliament killed in a highway collision with an elephant. A villager killed on his walk home from a bus stop. Both tragedies occurred along known wildlife corridors . Neither had a single warning sign. Why is basic warning infrastructure still missing on our roads and paths ? Have you ever encountered wildlife during your travels? Share your experiences below.

Read the full story:https://thecitizenbulletin.news/series-story/his-last-walk-home/

Mbusi Mabhena never made it home. Months after a new law promised greater protection for communities affected by human-wildlife conflict, many of its key safeguards remain unimplemented.

Imagine waking up before sunrise to trek miles to a dry riverbed, only to dig in the sand for muddy water shared with ca...
14/08/2026

Imagine waking up before sunrise to trek miles to a dry riverbed, only to dig in the sand for muddy water shared with cattle, pigs, and wild animals . For generations, families in Mbizha endured this daily reality . But now, a solar-powered water scheme is changing everything . What is the water situation like in your community? Let's talk about the right to clean water.

Read the full story: https://thecitizenbulletin.news/series-story/when-the-wells-ran-dry/

In Mbizha, drought forced families to dig for water in dry riverbeds and share it with animals. Today, access to clean water is changing far more than how they live.

How long should communities wait for the safety they were legally promised? Mbusi Mabhena stepped off a bus in Nkayi, wa...
14/08/2026

How long should communities wait for the safety they were legally promised?

Mbusi Mabhena stepped off a bus in Nkayi, walking a familiar path home. He never made it. He was killed by an elephant near the Singwangombe River crossing . Months prior, a new law promised safety and relief for communities facing human-wildlife conflict—yet key safeguards remain unimplemented, and the relief fund isn't even operational. Let's discuss in the comments.

Read the full story: https://thecitizenbulletin.news/series-story/his-last-walk-home/

Mbusi Mabhena never made it home. Months after a new law promised greater protection for communities affected by human-wildlife conflict, many of its key safeguards remain unimplemented.

■ Her name was Patricia Nyoni.She was 35. She was pregnant. She was referred from Nkayi to Bulawayo because the local fa...
01/05/2026

■ Her name was Patricia Nyoni.

She was 35. She was pregnant. She was referred from Nkayi to Bulawayo because the local facility could not
handle her case. The ambulance overturned near Inyathi. She did not survive.
There is no official record of her death along that referral route. No statistic. No report. Just a family that
remembers.
The Citizen Bulletin remembers too.
Our investigation into healthcare access across Matabeleland North is live. We are committed to continuing this
coverage until our communities have the care they deserve.
■ Read: "The Road to Bulawayo" → https://thecitizenbulletin.org/series-story/the-road-to-bulawayo/

■ Tell us: Has your family been affected by healthcare access in Matabeleland North? Share in the comments.

In Matabeleland North, patients travel up to 320 kilometers for care. Some never arrive.

By the numbers: Healthcare in Matabeleland North■ 320km — distance from Binga to Bulawayo■ 168km — distance from Nkayi t...
29/04/2026

By the numbers: Healthcare in Matabeleland North

■ 320km — distance from Binga to Bulawayo
■ 168km — distance from Nkayi to Bulawayo
■ 22.7% — Lupane hospital completion after 20+ years
■ ZiG 540 million (~$22.5M) allocated in 2026 — but no specialist care planned
■ 8,000–10,000 deliveries/year handled by Mpilo Central Hospital for multiple provinces
■ 0 official records of deaths along referral routes
The infrastructure gap is not new. The deaths are not new. What is new is that we are naming them.
Read "The Road to Bulawayo" — a special report from our team on the ground.
For More on the story: https://thecitizenbulletin.org/series-story/the-road-to-bulawayo/

In Matabeleland North, patients travel up to 320 kilometers for care. Some never arrive.

■ "The Road to Bulawayo" | A special report by Thubelihle Wellington Ncube At 3 am an ambulance leaves Nkayi carrying Si...
27/04/2026

■ "The Road to Bulawayo" | A special report by Thubelihle Wellington Ncube

At 3 am an ambulance leaves Nkayi carrying Sikhathele Ncube 28 years old, seven months pregnant, blood
pressure rising. The nearest obstetrician is 168 kilometres away. She does not arrive in time.
Matabeleland North is the only province in Zimbabwe without a fully functional provincial hospital. Patients from
Binga travel up to 320km to access specialist care in Bulawayo. Some never make it.
The Lupane Provincial Hospital has been under construction for over two decades. As of 2026, it is 22.7%
complete and when it opens, it will offer only maternity and outpatient services. No radiotherapy. No cancer
care. No specialist equipment.
Patricia Nyoni died when the ambulance carrying her overturned near Inyathi. A man with a spinal cord injury died
when his ambulance broke down and the hospital had no electricity.
These are not isolated incidents. They are the consequence of decades of incomplete infrastructure and
underfunded healthcare in our region.
For More: https://thecitizenbulletin.org/series-story/the-road-to-bulawayo/

In Matabeleland North, patients travel up to 320 kilometers for care. Some never arrive.

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