Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa School of Nursing gears up for first intake

By Admire Chitsungo

The Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa School of Nursing at Jimayi Muduvuri Pan African Hospital in Kadoma, has begun the final selection process for its pioneer intake following an overwhelming response that saw more than 3 000 applications received from prospective students across Zimbabwe.

The highly anticipated institution, which is expected to welcome its first class on May 4, marks a major milestone in strengthening the country’s health delivery system and human capital development in line with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda of building an upper middle-income economy driven by quality social services and skilled manpower.

In a move meant to uphold credibility and public confidence, sealed boxes containing application letters from all provinces were officially opened yesterday before a multi-stakeholder selection panel comprising officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, police officers, and hospital administrators.

The transparent selection exercise is expected to trim the applicants to an initial 20 students, with authorities stressing the need for fairness, merit and national inclusivity.

Speaking during the opening of the application boxes, Tutor-in-Charge Ms Lusica Shumba said the school was fully prepared to commence learning activities, with all academic and operational systems now in place.

“Everything needed to ensure the proper discharge of education to the students in the first intake is now in place,” she said.

“We have started the selection of students by opening boxes full of applications. Our task is now to whittle down the figure to 20 students while observing the spirit of devolution and equal opportunity.”

She said the establishment of the nursing school dovetails with Government efforts to decentralise access to critical professional training opportunities, ensuring that youths from every province benefit from national development programmes.

Philanthropist and founder,Cde Jimayi Muduvuri, urged the selection committee to uphold the principles of transparency, fairness and provincial representation, saying the institution carries national significance.

“This is a project in honour of the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, and everything must be done above board,” he said.

In a no-holds-barred warning against corruption, Cde Muduvuri sent a chilling message to unscrupulous staff members, declaring zero tolerance for bribery and abuse of office.

“In the spirit of devolution and leaving no one and no place behind, we want the selectors to ensure representation from all provinces.”

He said the institution is poised to become a key feeder of skilled nurses into Zimbabwe’s health sector, contributing directly to the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, which place strong emphasis on modernising health infrastructure, expanding training institutions and improving access to quality healthcare.

“Cde Muduvuri said my personal health journey and the life-saving intervention by Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa planted in me the seed to give back to my nation by supporting the health delivery system,”.

To support quality learning, the school has already put in place fully equipped classrooms, a library and state-of-the-art equipment, creating a conducive environment for excellence in nursing education.

In response to the huge demand, Cde Muduvuri revealed that engagements were already underway with the regulatory authorities and the Ministry of Health and Child Care to increase the school’s intake from the current 20 students to around 100 students per intake.

“For a start, we have been allowed to enroll 20 students, but owing to the overwhelming response, we are engaging the relevant authorities so that more students can be enrolled,” he said.

“On our part, we have been tasked with increasing boarding facilities for the students, and that process is already underway.”

The expansion drive is expected to further position Kadoma as an emerging hub for health sciences education, while accelerating the production of much-needed nursing professionals who will serve communities across the country, a critical pillar in achieving Vision 2030’s goal of a prosperous and empowered Zimbabwe.