The government has warned aspiring nurses against paying bribes to criminals who claim to secure places in nurse training.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, said recruitment is free, and the Ministry does not charge applicants anything.
He was speaking in an interview with the Chronicle in Victoria Falls on Monday.
His remarks follow the publication of adverts inviting suitably qualified Zimbabweans to apply for nurse training intakes, which have attracted thousands of applicants for the limited places available.
The Ministry said reports have since surfaced of unscrupulous individuals demanding bribes in exchange for placement, prompting Government to intervene.
“We are here today to alert our own citizens as the Ministry of Health and Child Care. We advertised nursing recruitment, but we have heard so many reports of people who are making people pay for the nursing recruitment,” Kwidini said.
“But let me be clear on this one. The Ministry of Health and Child Care does not make people pay for the recruitment.”
Kwidini said prospective trainees should be vigilant against fraudsters masquerading as recruitment agents and report them.
“So, definitely, if one is being called by the so-called recruiters, saying we want to give you a place, report them to the police,” he said.
He reiterated that the process is entirely free and has been decentralised to districts and provinces to curb corruption.
“Because what we know is the Ministry does not charge for recruitment. It’s totally free. That is why we have decentralised nursing recruitment to districts and provinces across the country. We want to address this corruption whereby people are made to pay to be recruited,” he said.
Kwidini warned that Ministry officials found to be involved in the scam risk being dismissed.
He urged applicants to follow only the requirements stated in the official advert and to report anyone demanding payment to the police or to Ministry of Health and Child Care officials.
“Don’t ever be defrauded by individuals demanding to be paid, purporting to have secured a place for you. What you just need to do is to meet the requirements stated in the advert for the recruitment,” he said.
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