Deputy Health Minister Calls for Degree-Level Training for Nurses
Written by Skyz Metro FM on November 5, 2025
5 November 2025
By Khulisani Siziba
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Timios Kwidini has urged government to upgrade Zimbabwe’s general nursing qualification from a diploma to a degree.
Speaking at Mpilo Nursing School’s graduation ceremony in Bulawayo recently, Kwidini said the current curriculum has outgrown the diploma framework and must be aligned with international standards to ensure nurses receive the recognition they deserve.
“The content which is in there is just equivalent to a degree. Nurses are being looked down upon because they aren’t believed to be the backbone of the Ministry of Health,” said the minister.
He recommended that the ministry work with universities to affiliate and redesign nursing programmes so that future general nurses graduate with degrees.
“Those specialized nurses like those who train at Ingutsheni maybe those can be diplomas,” he said. “But general nursing content is degree stuff.”
Kwidini cited the United Kingdom’s nursing education model as an example, stating that Zimbabwe must modernize its approach to empower nurses and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
Skyz Metro FM