Only Nurses With 15 Years’ Service Get Exit Letters, Thousands Left Waiting
The Government has begun issuing verification letters to nurses seeking employment abroad, but is prioritising only those who have served for 15 years or more, leaving many others still waiting as authorities work to clear the backlog.
Verification letters are essential for nurses applying for international posts.
For months, thousands of applicants were left in limbo, having submitted their requests with hopes of securing jobs overseas.
The delays sparked frustration across the health sector, with many accusing authorities of dragging their feet while the country’s healthcare workforce continued to shrink.
Addressing delegates at the Zimbabwe Nurses Association’s annual general meeting in Masvingo, Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini announced that the Government had begun issuing verification letters.
He stated that the Ministry of Health and Child Care had taken over the process from the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe and was now prioritising long-serving nurses as part of efforts to restore fairness and order.
“We have started issuing verification letters, but we are giving maximum respect to the people who have served in the ministry for a long time — to say 15 years, you can go,” Kwidini said.
He added that a new policy is being developed to make the process more transparent.
Under the proposed system, nurses will automatically receive verification letters once they complete their bonding period — a move aimed at reducing delays and improving trust in the system.
“We are coming up with a policy where everyone will benefit. Once you complete your bonding, you will automatically get your verification.
“By that time, we will have trained more nurses, and no one will have a problem with the Government,” he said.
Kwidini also addressed concerns about corruption, alleging that some nurses had obtained certificates of good standing before completing their bonding obligations.
He stated that this was one of the reasons the ministry intervened and took control of the verification process.
“Because of this thing called money, it has turned everything into corruption. The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe was releasing certificates to people who had not completed bonding,” he said.
He warned nurses against leaving the country without proper documentation, noting that many who had done so were now facing serious challenges abroad.
Some, he said, were misled by social media and are now struggling with poor working conditions and mental health issues.
“I have been receiving calls… some have left the country without proper paperwork and when they get there, they will be deceiving you on TikTok, and then you think everything is gold on that side,” Kwidini said.
He added that some nurses working in the United Kingdom were now seeking to return home due to stress and depression, but the Government would prioritise those who remained committed to serving locally.
“They are now begging to be put at Parirenyatwa Hospital, but we prioritise nurses who are patriotic, who remain in the country,” he said.
The Government has faced criticism for allegedly using bureaucratic delays to restrict emigration, as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with a depleted and overstretched healthcare system.
The new policy is expected to strike a balance between retaining skilled personnel and respecting the rights of nurses to pursue opportunities abroad.
-NewsDay
