The
Ministry
of
Health
and
Child
Care
issued
an
update
addressing
concerns
raised
by
Progress
Muzuva,
a
former
nurse
stationed
in
Bikita
who
was
injured
in
the
line
of
duty
in
2018.
In
its
update
on
Friday,
8
August
2025,
the
Ministry
reaffirmed
its
commitment
to
handling
the
matter
with
seriousness,
empathy
and
transparency,
assuring
the
public
that
all
measures
taken
comply
with
the
relevant
laws
and
procedures.
It
said
that
Muzuva’s
case,
which
has
drawn
significant
public
attention,
involves
long-term
medical
treatment,
compensatory
benefits,
and
the
possibility
of
medical
retirement
due
to
injuries
sustained
whilst
in
service.
Muzuva,
who
was
based
at
Bikita
Rural
Hospital,
sustained
spinal
and
leg
injuries
while
attempting
to
restrain
a
violent
patient
during
an
emergency
ambulance
transfer.
Her
ordeal,
which
recently
gained
renewed
prominence
through
social
media
and
widely
circulated
audio
clips,
has
sparked
widespread
outrage
and
calls
for
reform
in
the
treatment
of
frontline
healthcare
workers
in
Zimbabwe.
According
to
the
Ministry’s
update,
Muzuva
began
receiving
monthly
disability
compensation
in
October
2024
under
the
Disability
Benefits
Act,
with
payments
backdated
to
2018.
The
Ministry
added
that
she
also
received
three
months’
full
salary
in
August
2020,
as
well
as
a
cash
payment
in
lieu
of
outstanding
holiday
leave
in
January
2022.
Although
she
went
off
pay
in
2019
after
exceeding
the
statutory
sick
leave
limits,
the
Ministry
stressed
that
all
her
entitlements
were
processed
in
accordance
with
government
regulations.
The
Ministry
said:
“Sick
leave
documentation
was
completed
and
submitted
to
the
relevant
government
departments
for
processing.“Compensation
under
the
Disability
Benefits
Act
[Chapter
16:05]
commenced
in
October
2024,
backdated
to
2018,
and
is
being
paid
monthly
to
date.“Ms.
Muzuva
went
off
pay
in
2019
after
exceeding
the
regulatory
sick
leave
limits
but
received
three
months’
full
salary
(including
arrears)
in
August
2020,
as
well
as
cash
in
lieu
of
outstanding
vacation
leave
days
in
January
2022.”
In
terms
of
medical
support,
the
Ministry
said
that
Muzuva
was
granted
Government
patient
status
in
January
2020,
allowing
her
to
access
free
treatment
at
public
health
institutions.
The
statement
reads:
“As
of
21
January
2020,
Ms.
Muzuva
was
granted
Government
patient
status,
entitling
her
to
free
treatment
in
public
health
institutions.
This
status
remains
in
effect
to
date.“Records
show
that
Ms.
Muzuva
accessed
care
at
Mpilo
Central
Hospital,
Sally
Mugabe
Central
Hospital,
Masvingo
Provincial
Hospital,
and
Parirenyatwa
Group
of
Hospitals,
with
ambulance
services
and
medical
treatment
provided
as
needed.“A
Ministry
team
has
been
deployed
to
assess
her
current
needs
and
identify
additional
measures
to
support
her.“Ms
Muzuva
has
since
been
assessed
on
07
August
2025
by
a
Specialist
Neurosurgeon
at
Masvingo
Provincial
Hospital
and
recommendations
for
advanced
imaging
and
psychological
support
have
been
made
and
will
be
undertaken.”
Regarding
her
employment
status,
the
Ministry
revealed
that
medical
boards
convened
in
2020
and
2021
recommended
retirement
on
medical
grounds.
The
Ministry
stated:
“Medical
boards
convened
in
2020
and
2021
assessed
her
condition
and
recommended
retirement
on
medical
grounds
in
July
2021.“Ms.
Muzuva
initially
disputed
the
recommendation
in
October
2021
but
submitted
consent
for
retirement
in
June
2024.“The
Ministry
has
since
requested
the
Health
Services
Commission
to
consider
her
latest
request.“All
processes
have
been
undertaken
in
line
with
the
Health
Service
Regulations
of
2006.”
In
response
to
allegations
of
mistreatment
and
administrative
negligence,
the
Ministry
reiterated
its
zero-tolerance
policy
toward
misconduct.
It
said
it
has
asked
the
Health
Services
Commission
to
review
all
aspects
of
Muzuva’s
case
and
pledged
to
take
appropriate
action
should
any
breaches
be
confirmed.
Muzuva
reportedly
spent
over
US$11,000
on
medical
expenses
and
endured
years
of
bureaucratic
hurdles,
often
travelling
in
pain
without
reliable
ambulance
support.