Govt prioritises long-serving nurses in verification process

The government has started issuing long-awaited verification letters to nurses, prioritising those who have served for at least 15 years, in what it says is part of ongoing efforts to reform the health sector and address long-standing grievances.

Verification letters are essential documents required by health professionals seeking employment abroad. For months, thousands of nurses have accused the government of withholding the letters despite having paid US$300 each to the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe - an amount that reportedly totals over US$3 million.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) annual general meeting in Masvingo recently, Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Kwidini confirmed that the ministry had resumed issuing the documents but was giving precedence to long-serving employees.

"We have started issuing verification letters, but we are giving maximum respect to people who have served in the ministry for a long time - to say, those with 15 years of service can go," Kwidini said.

He added that the ministry was formulating a new policy framework to ensure fairness and transparency in the verification process.

"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 said corruption had undermined the previous process, with some nurses obtaining certificates of good standing before completing their mandatory bonding period.

"Because of this thing called money, everything has turned into corruption. The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe was releasing certificates to people who had not completed bonding, which is why we took over the verification process," he said.

He also cautioned nurses against leaving the country without the required paperwork, warning that many were facing difficulties abroad.

"We want to protect this profession and protect you. Some have left without proper documentation and end up deceiving others on TikTok, pretending everything is perfect. The truth is, some are depressed and struggling because the UK is now tightening regulations on foreign nurses," he said.

Kwidini added that some nurses were now seeking to return home after facing challenges abroad.

"They are now begging to be placed at Parirenyatwa Hospital, but we prioritise nurses who are patriotic - those who remained in the country," he said.

Over 6,000 nurses have reportedly paid for verification letters but are still waiting to receive them. Critics have accused the government of deliberately delaying the process to curb the mass exodus of healthcare professionals from the country's strained health sector.