Midnight Escape: Trainee Nurse Flees Over Forged O’ Level Scandal
GUTU – A final-year trainee nurse at Gutu Mission Hospital has disappeared overnight, allegedly fleeing after learning that his academic credentials were about to be verified.
The incident has triggered a formal investigation and raised serious concerns about corruption and certificate fraud in Zimbabwe’s nursing school admissions.
Persuade Gomiwa, the student at the center of the scandal, reportedly packed his belongings and left his hostel room during the night without notifying anyone.
Sources claim he used a forged Ordinary Level certificate to gain entry into the nursing programme.
While the minimum requirement is five passes, Gomiwa allegedly had only four, but submitted a fake certificate showing six subjects.
The sudden disappearance coincided with a scheduled verification of academic records, prompting speculation that Gomiwa may have fled to avoid exposure.
His absence was first noticed by hospital authorities during morning checks, when his bed was found empty and his belongings gone.
Bribery has reportedly become a common practice in nursing school recruitment, with some applicants allegedly paying up to US$1,000 to secure places.
This trend has made it easier for forged documents to slip through unnoticed, undermining the credibility of the selection process and raising questions about oversight.
Gutu Mission Hospital Station Superintendent Reverend Taru Mugoni confirmed the student’s unexplained absence but emphasized that investigations were still underway.
“It is not yet confirmed and there are verifications that are to be done by the Human Resources including at Provincial offices. The case is still at a premature stage because there are offices that are yet to be informed.
“What I can confirm is there is a student who did not return to the college and investigations are ongoing,” said Rev Mugoni.
Masvingo Provincial Medical Director Dr. Amadeus Shamhu said the province has recorded a few cases involving forged certificates, and such incidents are treated as criminal offenses.
“There are very few cases of use of forged certificates. In such cases, the ministry conducts disciplinary investigations and the student automatically discontinues the studies and faces arrest,” he said.
According to The Mirror, Gomiwa could not be reached for comment.
However, sources within the nursing school described him as an above-average student who had never failed a course throughout his three years of training.
The nursing programme at Gutu Mission Hospital typically admits around 20 students per intake.
The incident has sparked calls for stricter vetting procedures and improved transparency in admissions to protect the integrity of Zimbabwe’s healthcare training institutions.
