Government Pressures Nurses Council to Decentralise Services as Nurses Battle Costly Trips to Harare

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – The Government has intensified pressure on the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe to decentralise its operations and establish provincial offices, amid growing concerns over the financial and logistical burden faced by nurses who must travel to Harare for registration and licensing services.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Timios Kwidini publicly challenged the council to provide clear timelines for decentralisation during the International Day of Midwives commemorations held at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) on Friday. His remarks drew enthusiastic applause from nurses and midwives attending the event, many of whom have long complained about the high costs associated with travelling to the capital for professional registration and administrative services.

Addressing delegates, Kwidini said some parastatals and professional regulatory bodies were lagging behind government efforts to decentralise services under the national devolution agenda.

"As the deputy minister, I have seen that there is some resistance to change in our parastatals," he said.

The deputy minister questioned why the Nurses Council continues to operate primarily from Harare despite government policy promoting equitable access to public services across all provinces.

He revealed that UBH management had offered temporary office space to facilitate the establishment of regional registration services.

"A great work and greater job has been done by our CMO at UBH, who is going to offer them a room for three to six months so that they can do the registration and any other duties they are doing in Harare for this region also," said Kwidini.

The proposal was welcomed by healthcare professionals who say travelling to Harare for registration often imposes significant financial strain. Many nurses from provinces such as Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, and Masvingo are required to spend money on transport, accommodation, and meals while processing registration documents. Healthcare workers attending the event said the centralisation of services can delay professional registration, affecting employment opportunities, deployment, and career progression, particularly for newly qualified nurses from remote areas.

Responding to the concerns, Nurses Council Registrar Rhoda Mafukidze acknowledged the need for decentralisation and said plans were already in motion.

"It is work in progress and we will start devolving soon and will update him," Mafukidze said.

However, Kwidini insisted that the council provide a concrete implementation schedule rather than broad assurances.

"As professionals, we don't want to put someone on the bus, but now is not the time. A time frame is needed," he said. "I will be on your back to make sure this is going to be applied."

Speaking to journalists after the event, Kwidini said decentralising registration services was essential to achieving President Emmerson Mnangagwa's vision that "no place and no one should be left behind." He argued that nurses from distant areas such as Beitbridge, Binga, and Victoria Falls should not be forced to travel hundreds of kilometres simply to complete registration processes.

"We have said this is the time to devolve. The Nurses Council should come down to the southern region and set offices so that all these services being given in Harare are also found in the southern region," he said.

The call reflects wider public demands for the decentralisation of key government and regulatory services, with many Zimbabweans continuing to travel long distances to access administrative functions concentrated in the capital. Healthcare stakeholders say establishing provincial offices could improve efficiency, reduce costs for nurses, and strengthen access to essential professional services across the country.

Nurses Council decentralisation Zimbabwe