Corruption blights student nurses recruitment

A Silveira Mission Hospital student nurse has been arrested while his alleged accomplice remains on the run after they reportedly defrauded a Bikita widow, Liliosa Jakaza, of US$1 700 by promising to secure nursing school places for her two daughters.

Also implicated in the scam is Wellington Mutisi, the Zanu-PF Varakashi4ED national political commissar, who allegedly posed as a government minister and directed the victims to Masvingo Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira's offices at Benjamin Burombo in Masvingo.

Police confirmed the arrest of Thomas Wasosa (36), who is now in remand prison, while Tapiwa Marongere, a former student nurse who dropped out and allegedly impersonated the Silveira Mission Hospital Medical Superintendent, is still at large.

Officer Commanding Bikita District, Chief Superintendent Carton Chigona, confirmed the case to The Masvingo Mirror but declined to give further details, citing ongoing investigations.

According to the State's case, the incident began in August 2024 when Jakaza visited Silveira Mission Hospital and met several student nurses, including Wasosa. During their conversation, she enquired how they had secured nursing places since her daughters, aged 18 and 21, had failed to gain admission despite repeated applications.

A few days later, Wasosa contacted Jakaza privately and asked for her phone number. On June 3, 2025, after a public advert for nursing students appeared, Wasosa called Jakaza and informed her that the hospital's "superintendent" wanted to speak with her. Soon after, she received a call from Marongere, who introduced himself as the superintendent and requested US$1 700 to secure two nursing places for her daughters.

Desperate to help her children, Jakaza - a widow from Bikita - sold four of her cattle, raising the required amount. She allegedly handed US$1 000 in cash to Marongere at Nyika Growth Point and sent an additional US$650 via EcoCash.

Marongere then instructed her to send one of her daughters to meet "Minister Mutisi" in Harare, carrying all her academic certificates. The daughter reportedly met Mutisi, who directed her to Masvingo to meet Minister Chadzamira the next morning. At Chadzamira's offices, the young woman was attended to by two men and a personal assistant who took her papers and even made corrections, according to the allegations.

As the nursing intake dates drew near, the three suspects reportedly became evasive. Mutisi later told Jakaza that her daughters had "missed the September intake" but would be considered for January 2026. He later offered to help one of the girls join the police force - an offer the family declined.

When Jakaza demanded a refund, the trio allegedly promised to pay her back in instalments of US$200, but failed to follow through and eventually stopped answering her calls. Mutisi reportedly later offered Jakaza a residential stand in Masvingo as compensation, but she refused.

Jakaza eventually reported the matter to Silveira Mission authorities, leading to Wasosa's arrest. Police are still hunting for Marongere, while investigations continue into Mutisi's alleged role in the scam.

Authorities have warned members of the public to be cautious of individuals claiming to have influence over nursing school recruitment, amid growing reports of corruption and fake admissions scams in Zimbabwe's health institutions.