By Michael Gwarisa
The Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) has responded to a public notice issued by the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ), which distanced itself from any regulatory association with the institute’s training of nurses. HIPH maintains that its programs are accredited by the government under the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) and do not fall under the mandate of the Nurses Council.
In a statement released last week, the Nurses Council sought to clarify its position, stating that it neither recognises nor regulates any nursing qualifications offered by HIPH.
The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe wishes to clarify and inform members of the public, healthcare stakeholders and all prospective nursing students that it has no regulatory connection with the Harare Institute of Public Health regarding the training of nurses,” read the NCZ statement.
“The Council is not associated in any capacity with the curriculum, accreditation or certification of any nursing programs offered by the Harare Institute of Public Health. Any training or courses in nursing conducted by the said institution are not under the purview, recognition or approval of the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe.”
The Nurses Council further reminded the public that it is the sole statutory authority responsible for regulating nursing education and practice in the country under the Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19].
However, responding to HealthTimes, HIPH Assistant Registrar for HIPH , Retlaw Matatu Matorwa, clarified that the institution does not train registered nurses but offers Nurse Assistant training, which is certified and examined through HEXCO — a government-accredited system under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.
“The Harare Institute of Public Health trains HEXCO-accredited programs. All our programs are Government of Zimbabwe programs approved and examinable by HEXCO under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development,” said Matorwa.
“The Nurses Council has approached and visited HIPH on two occasions. During those visits, we were given a list of requirements to meet the Council’s accreditation process. We have since complied with these requirements, and the Council even conducted inspections.”
Matorwa explained that discussions between HIPH and the Nurses Council date back to 2017, and that delays in completing the formal accreditation process were largely due to structural transitions within the Ministry of Health and Child Care — a fact he says is known to all parties involved.
[pullquote]”The statement by the Nurses Council is not only erroneous but misleading. We have never claimed to train nurses. We train Nurse Assistants within the HEXCO framework. The Nurses Council is targeting the wrong institution,” said Matorwa.[/pullquote]
“We are disturbed that instead of responding to our submissions and engaging with us as stakeholders, the Nurses Council chose to issue a public notice. Their mentioning of HIPH in this manner is not in good faith.”
HIPH insisted that its programs are aligned with the government’s broader education and workforce development framework, and that it continues to produce graduates who are competent and equipped to serve in various healthcare support roles.
Meanwhile, confusion persists among prospective students and the general public regarding the legitimacy and future of qualifications awarded by the institute. Stakeholders are calling for urgent clarification from the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to harmonise regulatory oversight and provide clear guidance on such programs.
