THERE was little cheer for Binga residents this week after the government admitted that refurbishment work at the long-promised Binga District School of Nursing is moving slowly.
According to authorities, the earliest possible opening is set for 2027, only if things go according to plan.
The nursing school was mooted in 2018 as a flagship project under the Binga Development Initiative, launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to uplift one of the country’s marginalised regions.
For years, residents have waited for action, but progress has remained painfully slow.
Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Kwidini conceded that significant work is still to be do before the nursing school can become a reality.
“As of now, we cannot say tomorrow or the day after tomorrow that the School of Nursing is going to be there,” Kwidini said.
Keep Reading
- COVID-19 cases rising
- Zim in intensive polio vaccine programme
- BCC winds up polio vaccination programme
- Drug theft scandal rocks UBH
“If things work well, we think that by January 2027, it should be opening.
“There are so many things that need to be refurbished. If things go the other way, we will try to make sure that by the end of 2027, the school will be running.”
Binga has long endured a severe shortage of nurses.
Many health facilities in the area operate with minimal staff, forcing patients to
travel long distances for basic care.
The district also faces high poverty levels and limited access to education and employment.
The school will provide a platform to train local youth who will likely remain in the
area after graduation, improving healthcare and creating jobs.
The government’s recent quota-based enrolment system, requiring at least 75% of nursing students to come from their districts, makes the Binga school even more critical.
Without it, local recruits will continue to seek training in far away places, reducing the chances of their return.
Meanwhile, other rural nursing schools are showing signs of life.
In the Matobo district, Tshelanyemba and Maphisa schools have resumed operations after temporary closure.
Tsholotsho School of Nursing recently held its first graduation ceremony since 2015.