Outrage over fake health worker scandals at Mpilo Hospital

Bulawayo residents, civil society leaders, and political commentators have expressed outrage over repeated incidents of fake health practitioners being exposed at Mpilo Central Hospital - raising serious concerns about patient safety and institutional accountability.

In June, a 27-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison for impersonating a qualified medical doctor at the hospital. Just last month, another scandal emerged when 23-year-old Thelma Gurupira from Mbare, Harare, was arrested for allegedly using a forged Zimbabwe Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) certificate to gain admission into Mpilo School of Nursing.

Gurupira appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba and was released on free bail. Prosecutor Sibusisiwe Sithole told the court that Gurupira knowingly submitted a fake certificate in 2017, which falsely indicated she had passed six subjects. She was enrolled and trained as a student nurse from September 2022 to September 2025.

Her arrest came barely a week after another student nurse from Murehwa faced similar charges for using fraudulent academic credentials.

The incidents have sparked widespread condemnation, with critics pointing to systemic failures in recruitment and verification processes.

Max Mkandla, Chairperson of the Residents, Churches, and Peace Network, said:  
"This issue is disgusting and poses a serious health risk to patients. It's unclear whether this stems from the Human Resources department or elsewhere, but government must act to stop this rot."

Mkandla also raised concerns about the treatment of patients and the regional imbalance in recruitment.  
"Most of these fake practitioners are not from Matabeleland. I was recently admitted at Mpilo and what I saw was shocking. Nurses were rough, even general hands were disrespectful. You wonder who employs these people."

ZAPU Bulawayo Secretary Vivian Siziba echoed the concerns, saying:  
"Children from this region are denied places at Mpilo Nursing School to make way for holders of fake O Level certificates from other regions, particularly Mashonaland. Corruption is at the centre of this decay."

Siziba added that the problem extends beyond fake qualifications to compromised academic standards.  
"Underperforming students are awarded high marks, and patients are never safe under such a criminal and uncaring environment."

Social and political analyst Abigail Mupambi called for urgent reforms.  
"It's disturbing to have such regular incidents. The security of patients is compromised. Government must take corrective measures and restore public confidence in Mpilo's administration."

Nkayi Community Parliament Speaker Nhlanhla Ncube said the region is being targeted.  
"The lives of people in Matabeleland are treated as expendable. Government must decisively address these corrupt activities that undermine the credibility of Zimbabwe's education system."

Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni expressed disappointment, saying:  
"Health is a universal equaliser. Recruitment of health officials should follow strict checks and balances. It's shocking that such lapses continue to happen."

As pressure mounts, stakeholders are demanding a full investigation and immediate reforms to prevent further infiltration of fake health workers into Zimbabwe's public hospitals.