Nurses clash with Parirenyatwa over US$150 graduation fee

A storm is brewing at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals as graduate nurses demand clarity and flexibility over a mandatory US$150 graduation and administration fee - insisting that being forced to pay in United States dollars is unfair and exclusionary.

Approximately 330 nursing students, set to graduate in September, have been told to pay a US$100 administration fee and US$50 graduation fee, all exclusively in hard currency. The decision has sparked outcry, with students questioning why the hospital is rejecting payments in the local Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, despite the country's official multi-currency system.

"We are worried and do not understand why they are demanding the money in hard currency," one of the students told NewsDay. "Authorities have threatened to withhold results for graduands, especially those who completed their midwifery studies. Withholding results means we cannot register with the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe or practise."

The move has drawn criticism from the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), which argued that demanding foreign currency contravenes the current legal framework.

"Why is it in hard currency when we are in the multi-currency system?" ZINA president Enock Dongo queried.

But Parirenyatwa spokesperson Terrence Mautsi defended the arrangement, stating that both the graduation and administration fees were outcomes of prior consultations with students and tutors.

"The graduation fee is a standard, long-standing amount that directly funds the ceremony - covering registration, certificates, meals and other logistics," Mautsi explained. "No student is denied graduation due to genuine financial hardship. Payment plans are available."

He further explained that the US$100 administration fee was a one-time, student-approved initiative meant to fund urgent upgrades to student hostels.

"Consultations with elected student representatives and tutors in late 2024 led to consensus on this fee to address critical infrastructure needs. The funds are held in a ring-fenced, auditable account and have already enabled 90% progress in plumbing renovations," said Mautsi.

He added that the choice to collect payments in US dollars was not a unilateral decision by the hospital.

"This was an outcome of a consultative meeting where students and school authorities agreed that USD would be more practical for sourcing services and materials for the graduation ceremony and renovations," Mautsi said.

He cited the widespread reluctance among private suppliers - like caterers and equipment providers - to accept ZiG, which would result in inflated costs or insufficient funding if used.

"Most suppliers are demanding USD, and students themselves noted that paying in ZiG at interbank rates would fall short due to market distortions and limited acceptance of the local currency," he said.

Despite Mautsi's assurances that no student was coerced, concerns linger. Graduands argue that even with consultation, agreeing under institutional pressure doesn't reflect true voluntariness, especially when results are at stake.

The controversy comes amid Zimbabwe's broader currency challenges. The economy remains anchored in a multi-currency system dominated by the US dollar, even as the government insists that the ZiG - introduced in April 2024 - has stabilised. Authorities have announced a plan to end the multi-currency regime by 2030 as part of a de-dollarisation strategy.

Yet, in practice, confidence in ZiG remains low, particularly within the informal sector and among service providers, a reality that institutions like Parirenyatwa say they are forced to adapt to.

Mautsi concluded by assuring students that the hospital was open to dialogue and was acting in consultation with the parent Health Ministry.

"We regret any miscommunication that may have suggested coercion," he said. "Our door remains open to listen and resolve concerns."

As tensions persist, the affected nurses are hoping for a resolution that recognises both economic realities and their right to graduate without undue financial hardship.