Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
ASPIRING nurses have been warned against falling victim to criminals demanding bribes for nurses training recruitment as Government moves to decentralise recruitment and close avenues for corruption.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, said this in an interview in Victoria Falls on Monday.
His remarks come in the wake of recent adverts flighted for nursing training recruitment, which have seen thousands of aspiring nurses flocking to apply for the limited places available.
The Ministry’s adverts invited suitably qualified Zimbabweans to apply for nurse training intakes.
However, reports of unscrupulous individuals demanding bribes in exchange for placement have surfaced, prompting Government to take decisive action.
“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 of so many reports of people who are making people pay for the nursing recruitment,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
He clarified the Ministry’s position on the matter.
“But let me be clear on this one. The Ministry of Health and Child Care does not make people pay for the recruitment,” he said.
The Deputy Minister warned citizens to be vigilant against fraudsters masquerading as recruitment agents.
“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.
Deputy Minister Kwidini further reiterated that the recruitment process is entirely free.
“Because what we know is the ministry does not charge for recruitment. It’s totally free.”
He explained the rationale behind decentralising the recruitment exercise.
“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.
Deputy Minister Kwidini warned ministry officials who might be in volved in the scandal saying they risk being fired.
“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.
Deputy Minister Kwidini urged prospective applicants to report individuals approaching them demanding payment for recruitment to either the police or Ministry of Health and Child Care officials.
The decentralisation of the recruitment process is expected to improve transparency and ensure that deserving candidates secure places based on merit and not financial influence.
