Online Reporter
Andile Tshuma, Zimpapers Writer
MPILO Central Hospital in Bulawayo is set to receive brand-new radiotherapy machines in the first quarter of 2026, marking a major step towards restoring affordable, comprehensive cancer treatment services for thousands of patients.
The development was confirmed by Mpilo’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narcisius Dzvanga in his remarks at the Mpilo School of Nursing graduation ceremony on Friday last week.
A team from Siemens, the global medical technology company, has completed site assessments and confirmed that the new units will be delivered and installed by the first quarter of next year.
“The radiotherapy centre remains our sore thumb. Since 2017 it has been down. Numerous efforts have been made to repair the machines. I’m pleased to announce to you all today, that as recently as two days ago, I hosted representatives from Siemens, the manufacturers of radiotherapy machines.
“They assured me that we are getting brand new machines come March April 2026. I’ve been informed that Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo, are also going to get radiotherapy machines so that cancer treatment is accessible across the whole country,” said Dr Dzvanga.
He said he was elated that the Ministry of Health and Child Care had considered the hospital in getting new cancer machines.
“We thank the Ministry for these initiatives. The machines are being procured through Government support, and once they arrive, we will begin installation and staff training. This upgrade will allow us to implement modern cancer management protocols, bringing care closer to the people,” said Dr Dzvanga.
Of late patients from as far as Plumtree, Gwanda, Lupane, Binga and even Masvingo have had to travel to Harare for radiotherapy, or worse, forgo treatment altogether.
Those who could afford private facilities, some even crossing into South Africa or Botswana, paid steep costs for every dose of hope.
But now, that long wait for accessible cancer care in the southern region is nearing its end.
For Bulawayo and the southern provinces, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo, this upgrade represents far more than an infrastructural improvement. It is a renewal of hope.
Radiotherapy is one of the key components of cancer treatment, along with surgery and chemotherapy. Without it, patients face diminished chances of recovery, especially for cancers such as cervical, breast, and prostate, among the most common in Zimbabwe.
The breakdown of Mpilo’s radiotherapy machines had severely constrained the country’s ability to treat patients outside Harare. Waiting lists at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals grew, while some patients dropped out midway through treatment due to the high costs of travel and accommodation.
“It has been painful,” said a Bulawayo-based oncology nurse who has worked at Mpilo for over a decade.
“We have had patients coming to us asking for help we could not give. Referring someone to Harare when they have no means is heart-breaking. This upgrade gives us and our patients a reason to smile again,” she said.
The planned installation of the new equipment is part of a wider Government drive to strengthen health infrastructure and ensure universal health coverage, a key target under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and its successor framework, NDS2.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, said the upgrade at Mpilo aligns with the Government’s broader goal of ensuring that every citizen has access to quality healthcare regardless of their location.
“We are deliberately investing in health infrastructure so that every region has access to critical services,” he said.
“It is not just about new buildings or machines, it’s about ensuring equity, strengthening health systems, and retaining skilled personnel through adequate support and incentives,” he said.
He said the Ministry is also working on deploying more specialised health workers to rural and district hospitals through incentive-based programmes, a move meant to decentralise services and reduce congestion at central facilities.
As the hospital awaits delivery of the Siemens radiotherapy units, preparations are already underway to train staff and refurbish the oncology department. The new machines, once operational, will not only treat more patients but also introduce advanced imaging and planning systems that improve treatment accuracy and patient outcomes.
“This upgrade means that patients will no longer have to travel hundreds of kilometres for treatment. It will save lives, reduce costs for families, and strengthen our ability to manage the growing burden of non-communicable diseases,” Dr Dzvanga said.
Cancer remains one of Zimbabwe’s top causes of mortality, with cervical cancer leading among women and prostate cancer among men. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 7 500 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Zimbabwe, a figure likely underreported due to limited screening and diagnosis in remote areas.
For many families in the region, the return of radiotherapy at Mpilo will bring long-awaited relief.
Thabani Ncube, a 57-year-old cancer survivor from Gwanda, recalled his struggles travelling to Harare for treatment in 2019.
“It was expensive and exhausting,” he said.
“I had to stay with relatives in Harare and South Africa for almost three months. If we had the machines here then, life would have been much easier. I’m glad others won’t have to go through what we did.”
