Government Warns Against Nursing Recruitment Bribes

By Staff Reporter

HARARE- The Government has warned aspiring nurses against paying money to individuals claiming they can secure places in nursing training programmes, saying recruitment by the Ministry of Health and Child Care is free.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini said applicants should report anyone demanding payment in exchange for a training place to the police or Ministry officials.

Kwidini was speaking in Victoria Falls on Monday following the publication of adverts inviting suitably qualified Zimbabweans to apply for nursing training intakes.

The adverts have attracted thousands of applicants competing for a limited number of places, according to the Ministry. Government has since received reports of individuals allegedly demanding money from applicants in exchange for securing places, prompting renewed warnings against recruitment fraud. “We are here today to alert our own citizens as the Ministry of Health and Child Care. We advertised nursing recruitment, but we have heard of so many reports of people who are making people pay for the nursing recruitment,” Kwidini said.

“But let me be clear on this one. The Ministry of Health and Child Care does not make people pay for the recruitment.”

Recruitment process is free

Kwidini said applicants should be cautious of people presenting themselves as recruitment agents or claiming to have access to nursing training places. He urged anyone approached with such an offer to report the matter rather than making a payment. “So, definitely, if one is being called by the so-called recruiters, saying we want to give you a place, report them to the police,” he said.

The Deputy Minister reiterated that applicants are not required to pay the Ministry for recruitment. “Because what we know is the Ministry does not charge for recruitment. It’s totally free,” he said. Kwidini said nursing recruitment had been decentralised to districts and provinces as part of measures aimed at reducing opportunities for corruption and bringing the process closer to applicants. “That is why we have decentralised nursing recruitment to districts and provinces across the country. We want to address this corruption whereby people are made to pay to be recruited,” he said.

The Government has previously taken action over alleged irregularities in nursing recruitment. In March, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) called for greater transparency in health-sector recruitment, while authorities have also investigated allegations involving payments for nursing placements.

Applicants urged to follow official requirements

Kwidini warned that Ministry officials found to be involved in demanding payments could face dismissal. He urged prospective trainees to rely only on the requirements contained in the official recruitment advertisement and to avoid individuals who claim they can guarantee admission in exchange for money. “Don’t ever be defrauded by individuals demanding to be paid, purporting to have secured a place for you. What you just need to do is to meet the requirements stated in the advert for the recruitment,” he said.

The warning comes as Government continues to expand and decentralise nursing training. In September, Maphisa District Hospital Nursing School in Matabeleland South reopened with an initial intake of 25 students, while Gweru Provincial Hospital has expanded into specialist nurse training.

Applicants are therefore being urged to verify recruitment information through official Ministry channels and to report suspected fraud instead of paying individuals claiming to have influence over the selection process.

nursing recruitment bribes Zimbabwe