By Kuda Pembere
More than 500 students graduated from the Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) in disciplines spanning Pharmacy, Health Technology, Public Health, Nursing, and Business, with women making up the majority of the class of 2024-2025.
Last year, HIPH had 300 graduands marking a 40 percent increase to 505.
Officiating at the ceremony, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira commended the graduates for their tenacity, diligence, and critical thinking.
“Today, we celebrate 505 students from the School of Pharmacy, School oof Health Technology, School for Public Health, School for Nursing, and School of Business. You have been awarded the National Foundation Certificates, National Diplomas, and Higher National Diplomas credentials and badges of honour that are testament to your resilience, dedication and intellectual rigor.
“However, one statistic fills me with particular pride and hope for our nation’s future—that is, 80 percent of today’s graduates are female students,” Prof Tagwira said.
“This is not a mere number. It is a powerful declaration. It is the sound of glass ceilings shattering across our nation. It is a testament to our collective commitment to the principle and mantra of ‘leaving no one and no place behind.’
“As the adage goes, when we educate a woman, we educate a nation, we strengthen families, we uplift communities, and inject compassion and resilience into the very fabric of our society. Your presence here today, young women, is a bold statement that Zimbabwe’s future is inclusive, equitable, and bright.”
Prof Tagwira said the graduation was also a demonstration of government’s commitment to democratizing healthcare education.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa directed the undertaking of the 2018 National Critical Skills Audit that revealed a dire 32 percent overall skills availability, with the health sector being the worst affected at only 5 percent. This shortage spanned all levels—from nursing assistants to specialist doctors.
“Institutions like HIPH are the very engines of this philosophy of democratizing healthcare education. HIPH staff, you are at the heart of our mission to democratize and decentralize critical skills training in the public health sector.
“The success of today’s graduation is a powerful argument for the continued liberalization and democratization of professional public health training across our TVET institutions and universities. The future we are building ‘brick upon brick, stone upon stone’ is one where we harness the full capacity of our entire education system, inclusive of private sector participation, to solve our national challenges,” he said.
He further challenged the graduates to be innovative and entrepreneurial.
“To the Class of 2024/2025, you are the embodiment of this national vision. Your training in health sciences, technology, and business has equipped you not just to seek employment but to create it; to not just treat patients but to innovate new public health solutions; to not just participate in the economy but to drive it,” he said.
HIPH academic council chairperson Professor Simon Mukwembi highlighted the institution’s rapid growth.
“Our Nursing School continues to grow in strength with enhanced training programmes that emphasize clinical excellence, compassionate care, and community health—preparing our graduates to meet both local and regional healthcare demands,” he said.
“In line with this growth, the HIPH student population has increased significantly from 1,350 in 2024 to 2,200 in 2025, with 87 percent of this enrolment comprising female students and 13 percent male students—reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and gender empowerment. Importantly, our programs continue to uphold rigorous quality assurance standards, resulting in strong throughput and commendable pass rates that position our graduates competitively in both local and regional arenas.”
One of the graduates, nursing assistant Hope Gurukumba, expressed excitement at completing her studies, saying the qualification would help her pursue her long-held dream of working in the health sector.
Representing the minority of the graduands, Shalom Nyadongo from the School of Pharmacy found the journey hard yet surmountable in the end.
“I feel great , the journey wasn’t smooth but we were able to sail through the storm .. and l just thank God,” he said.
