Peter Matika [email protected]
BULAWAYO-based physiotherapist Dr Precious Madzimbe has earned international recognition after being named among the world’s 75 Noteworthy Physiotherapists, placing Zimbabwe alongside some of the most influential figures in the profession.
The recognition, announced by World Physiotherapy as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, honours practitioners whose contributions have advanced the profession at national, regional and international levels since the organisation’s establishment in 1951.
Dr Madzimbe, a clinician, academic and researcher, is among the professionals being celebrated by the global organisation, which represents more than 600 000 physiotherapists through 129 member organisations across countries and territories.
His achievement is particularly significant given his continued commitment to serving not just Bulawayo but the country, where he has worked as a civil servant for 14 years while developing an international academic and research profile.
He is also believed to be among the youngest professionals to receive the distinction.
The recognition places him alongside internationally renowned physiotherapy pioneers, including New Zealand’s Robin McKenzie, whose work produced the widely recognised McKenzie Method; Australia’s Geoffrey Maitland, a pioneer of manual therapy and spinal mobilisation; and South African academics Professor Aimée Stewart and Professor Brenda Morrow.
Dr Madzimbe described the honour as a particularly meaningful milestone, saying it was humbling to be recognised alongside professionals whose work had shaped the development of physiotherapy globally.
“To be recognised alongside some of the giants of our profession is deeply humbling. It affirms that Zimbabwean clinicians, researchers and academics can make meaningful contributions on the global stage,” he said.
He said the recognition also reflected the quality of education and professional training available in Zimbabwe, which had equipped local practitioners to serve communities, innovate and compete internationally.
Dr Madzimbe’s work has focused particularly on paediatric physiotherapy, rehabilitation and improving outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
His doctoral research at the University of Cape Town (UCT) investigated the involvement of fathers and siblings in home-based rehabilitation programmes for children with neurodevelopmental delays in Bulawayo.
The research challenged an approach in which mothers often carry the primary responsibility for taking children to rehabilitation appointments and implementing prescribed exercises at home, with limited participation from other family members.
His study followed 480 mothers, retaining 450 throughout its longitudinal component, and examined how involving fathers and siblings could improve children’s developmental progress while enhancing maternal wellbeing.
“The findings showed that children whose home rehabilitation involved mothers, fathers and siblings demonstrated better developmental progress than those supported by mothers alone.
Maternal wellbeing also improved when other family members participated,” said Dr Madzimbe.
He said the research highlighted the importance of family-centred rehabilitation, in which responsibility for a child’s development is shared rather than placed predominantly on mothers.
His findings were published in the journal Child: Care, Health and Development in May 2026 under the title Father and Sibling Involvement in Home Rehabilitation: Longitudinal Effects on Infant Development and Maternal Wellbeing in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Dr Madzimbe said his research was driven by challenges he encountered while working with families in clinical settings.
“Rehabilitation should not end when a child leaves the hospital or clinic. Families must be empowered to participate meaningfully in the process, and fathers and siblings should not be left out,” he said.
His recognition also comes against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s relatively small physiotherapy workforce.
Dr Madzimbe said World Physiotherapy’s 2024 figures show that the country had 442 practising physiotherapists, equivalent to approximately 0.27 practitioners per 10 000 people.
The achievement therefore highlights the potential of locally based specialists to contribute towards strengthening rehabilitation services and research capacity.
Dr Madzimbe’s academic journey began at the University of Zimbabwe, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Physiotherapy in 2012.
He subsequently undertook specialist postgraduate training in paediatric physiotherapy at UCT through the African Paediatric Fellowship Programme, before completing a Master of Science in Physiotherapy with distinction at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2022.
He graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy from UCT in September this year.
According to his professional profile, he has published seven peer-reviewed journal papers and four books, while presenting research at international scientific gatherings, including World Physiotherapy congresses in Dubai in 2023 and Tokyo in 2025, as well as the organisation’s Africa regional conference in Cape Town in 2024.
His previous accolades include the Best Poster Presentation Award at the South African Society of Physiotherapy Congress in 2022 and the International Organisation of Physiotherapists in Paediatrics’ Best Poster Award at the 2023 World Physiotherapy Congress.
In 2024, he received four Zimbabwe National Medical Excellence Awards for Outstanding Physiotherapy Practice, Compassionate Care, Pioneering Work in Physiotherapy and Excellence in Physiotherapy Research.
This year, he also received the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences Best Research Publication Award in the postgraduate category.
He also co-founded Madzimbe and Tsiga Physiotherapy Clinic, where he leads paediatric physiotherapy services.
Dr Madzimbe said his clinical service, teaching and research were part of his contribution towards Zimbabwe’s development aspirations, including the objectives of National Development Strategy 2 (2026-2030) and the country’s Vision 2030 goal of attaining upper-middle-income status.
He dedicated the international recognition to Bulawayo residents, saying the city had remained central to his professional journey.
“I dedicate this honour to the community of Bulawayo, which I have proudly served as a dedicated civil servant for 14 years. My deep love for this city and its people has sustained my commitment to serving here, even amid challenges that have led many health professionals to seek opportunities elsewhere,” he said.
Zimbabwe is represented in the organisation through the Zimbabwe Physiotherapy Association, which was established in 1972.
Dr Madzimbe said the recognition had renewed his commitment to improving rehabilitation services and advancing research in Zimbabwe.
“From Bulawayo to the world, I receive this honour with gratitude and humility. It renews my commitment to serving our communities and ensuring that African professionals are not only recipients of global knowledge but also contributors to shaping the future of our profession,” he said.
