BEWARE: Fraudsters Using Social Media To Scam Aspiring Nurses
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has launched investigations into a fake nursing recruitment website and a rising number of social media scams targeting aspiring nursing applicants.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Donald Mujiri, said fraudsters were exploiting WhatsApp groups, social media platforms and private cellphone numbers to deceive desperate applicants into believing they could secure nursing school placements through unofficial channels.
He emphasised that legitimate recruitment is only announced through the country’s mainstream print media and the ministry’s verified social media pages. Mr Mujiri warned that “anything outside these platforms is fake, illegal and aimed at stealing money from the public.”
“We are working with law enforcement to track, arrest and prosecute all individuals involved in these scams,” he said. “Corruption, bribery and backdoor recruitment will not be tolerated. The public is advised not to pay anyone, join unofficial groups, or respond to private phone numbers claiming to assist with nursing entry or job placement.”
Nurse training in Zimbabwe remains one of the most competitive programmes, attracting thousands of applicants for limited training places each year.
To improve fairness and transparency, the ministry recently decentralised the recruitment process, allowing local applicants to benefit directly. However, the high number of applicants has also created opportunities for manipulation and corruption by scammers.
