Fake Nurses Flood Hospitals — Government Launches Emergency Vetting Drive
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has intensified its vetting process for student nurse applicants following a surge in fake academic certificates used to gain entry into health training institutions.
The move comes after a series of fraud cases at major hospitals, including Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo and Parirenyatwa in Harare, where unqualified individuals infiltrated the system.
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed the new measures while responding to questions in the Senate this week.
He said the ministry is now working closely with the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) to verify all academic qualifications before enrolment.
“The Minister of Health and Child Care is now vetting through ZIMSEC and they have tasked ZIMSEC to confirm whether the papers are genuine.
“This is the path we are taking because we have seen that a lot of people are conning the ministry through the system,” Ziyambi said.
According to Cite, the crackdown follows several high-profile cases involving forged documents.
In June, a 27-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison for impersonating a qualified doctor.
In September, two student nurses were arrested for using fake ZIMSEC certificates, with one reportedly completing training from 2022 to 2025 before being exposed.
At Parirenyatwa Hospital, at least 11 fake doctors were discovered in 2024 after infiltrating the institution under false pretences.
Minister Ziyambi acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, stating,
“Indeed, it is true that we have such con artists who forge papers and pretend that they are qualified.”
Manicaland Senator Maxwell Mdhluri raised concern over the incidents, warning that unqualified practitioners pose a danger to public health and misuse government resources.
“These culprits are putting people’s health at risk and obtaining resources from government through receiving salaries without deserving,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi assured legislators that the government is treating the matter with urgency and that the new verification procedures will help prevent future cases.
The ministry aims to restore integrity in the recruitment of medical trainees and ensure that only qualified candidates are admitted into the healthcare system.
