Matebeleland South's third nursing school reopens in Matobo

Maphisa District in Matabeleland South has received a major boost following the reopening of Maphisa District Hospital Nursing School, offering fresh opportunities for rural youths who previously had to travel to urban centres to pursue nursing careers.

The nursing school, whose classrooms had remained unused since 2006, reopened its doors on Monday, September 7, 2026, with an inaugural intake of 25 students drawn from Matobo District.

The reopening is part of Government's drive to decentralise services and revive high-impact facilities under the Independence Legacy Projects championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

For years, aspiring nurses from Matobo had been forced to travel to Bulawayo, Harare and other centres in search of training opportunities, often facing stiff competition for limited places.

Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Dr Andrew Muza said the institution would admit approximately 25 students every September.

"The school will have an annual intake of approximately 25 students in September. The current intake has students from Matobo District only, while subsequent intakes will have a mix of students from the other districts in Matabeleland South as well as other provinces," he said.

Dr Muza said training nurses within the province would improve staff retention and help address shortages affecting the health sector.

"Training students at Maphisa Hospital will help us train nurses who will be easily retained in the province. This will help us to address our current staff shortages," he said.

He added that graduates would be deployed through the Health Services Commission in line with established procedures, while the Matobo District Health Executive would oversee the school's day-to-day operations.

The reopening brings the number of fully operational health training institutions in Matabeleland South to four, joining Gwanda Multi-Disciplinary Provincial Hospital, Brunapeg and Tshelanyemba.

Plumtree District Hospital Nursing School is also expected to become operational by the end of the year or early next year.

Maphisa Town Board chairperson Councillor Rosebud Siziba welcomed the development, saying the school would benefit both the students and the wider community.

The inaugural class comprises 19 females and six males, supported by two tutors and two clinical instructors.

Clr Siziba said the fact that the students were drawn from the local community would make it easier for them to remain and serve in the district after completing their training.

"The students trained as nurses will be easily deployed since the students are locals, and they are ready to save their community. They have a sense of ownership since they are training in their home district," she said.

The reopening of the nursing school adds to a growing list of infrastructure developments in Matobo District, including projects linked to the Independence Day national celebrations, cultural centres, school computer laboratories, a stadium and homes for liberation heroes.