The
vacancy
arises
following
the retirement
of
Dr
Narcisius
Dzvanga,
who
concluded
a
long
and
distinguished
career
in
public
service
on
25
December
2025.
His
departure
marked
the
end
of
an
era
for
the
institution,
where
he
served
in
various
leadership
capacities
over
many
years.
According
to
HSC
Vacancy
Circular
No.
6
of
2026,
the
Chief
Medical
Officer
position
is
graded
FL
(1)
and
reports
directly
to
the
Permanent
Secretary
of
the
Health
ministry.
The
successful
candidate
will
be
responsible
for
providing
leadership
and
strategic
vision
to
the
organisation
by
making
sure
there
is
compliance
with
set
standards
and
regulatory
requirements.
Applicants
for
the
post
must
possess
a
Degree
in
Medicine
and
Surgery,
a
Master
of
Medicine
Degree
or
Fellowship
in
a
clinical
area,
a
valid
Specialist
Practicing
Certificate
with
the
Medical
and
Dental
Practitioners
Council
of
Zimbabwe
(MDPCZ),
with
seven
years’
experience
and
at
least
two
years’
working
experience
at
Director
level.
The
critical
competencies
required
include
leadership,
team
coordination,
strategic
planning,
organisational
skills,
review
of
management
plans,
communication
skills,
stakeholder
engagement,
interpersonal
skills,
and
analytical
abilities.
Prospective
candidates
will
be
subjected
to
mandatory
psychometric
tests.
Among
those
expected
to
throw
their
hat
in
the
ring
is
the
current
acting
Chief
Medical
Officer,
Professor
Solwayo
Ngwenya,
who
has
been
at
the
helm
since
Dr
Dzvanga’s
retirement
at
the
end
of
2025.
Prof
Ngwenya,
who
also
serves
as
the
hospital’s
Clinical
Director,
assumed
the
acting
role,
and
has
since
introduced
practical
reforms
to
uplift
professionalism
and
accountability
at
the
hospital.
Sources
within
the
hospital
describe
a
renewed
sense
of
purpose
under
his
stewardship,
with
improvements
in
clinical
governance.
However,
concerns
have
been
raised
that
the
recruitment
drive
is
designed
to
bring
in
junior
candidates,
with
the
minimum
requirement
set
at
just
two
years’
experience
at
director
level.
There
are
claims
that
Prof
Ngwenya
may
once
again
be
overlooked,
with
an
external
candidate
appointed
instead.
This
would
not
be
the
first
time
Prof
Ngwenya
has
been
passed
over
for
the
top
post.
In
2022,
Dr
Dzvanga
was
appointed
CMO
after
serving
as
acting
CMO
at
United
Bulawayo
Hospital
(UBH),
despite
Prof
Ngwenya
having
been
the
institution’s
clinical
director.
Prior
to
that,
Prof
Ngwenya
had
been
elevated
to
acting
CMO
two
years
earlier,
following
the
removal
of
the
then-CMO,
Leonard
Mabhandi.
Meanwhile,
the
Health
Service
Commission
also
released
13
internal
vacancy
circulars
covering
positions
across
the
ministry.
Other
notable
posts
up
for
grabs
include:
-
Chief
Director,
Public
Health
at
Ministry
Head
Office
–
Requires
an
MBChB
degree,
Master’s
in
Public
Health,
and
at
least
two
years’
experience
as
Director
or
equivalent -
Director
Clinical
Services
at
Ingutsheni
Central
Hospital
–
Requires
a
specialist
qualification
in
Psychiatry
with
at
least
two
years’
experience
as
a
Specialist
Head
of
Department -
Provincial
Maternal
and
Child
Health
Officers
for
Mashonaland
Central,
Mashonaland
East,
Bulawayo
Metropolitan,
and
Matabeleland
South -
Provincial
Epidemiology
and
Disease
Control
Officers
for
Harare
Metropolitan,
Bulawayo
Metropolitan,
Matabeleland
North,
and
Manicaland -
District
Medical
Officers
for
Rushinga
(Mashonaland
Central),
Mutawatawa
(Mashonaland
East),
Nkayi
and
Tsholotsho
(Matabeleland
North) -
Chief
Pharmacist
at
Sally
Mugabe
Central
Hospital -
Deputy
Director
Procurement
at
Parirenyatwa
Group
of
Hospitals -
Chief
Accountant
(Expenditure)
and
Chief
Accountant
(Suspense)
at
Head
Office -
Director
Internal
Audit
at
Head
Office
Interested
candidates
must
apply
through
the
online
portal
at https://applications.hsc.org.zw/form.php,
attaching
application
letters,
detailed
CVs,
certified
copies
of
certificates,
and
a
copy
of
the
current
Result
Based
Personnel
Performance
Appraisal
Form.
The
applications
close
on
Friday,
6
March
2026.
In
making
recommendations
for
filling
these
posts,
the
Health
Service
Commission
will
only
consider
those
who
apply
in
terms
of
the
circulars
while
shortlisted
candidates
must
bring
original
certificates
when
called
for
interview.
The
application
link
requires
candidates
to
submit
all
documents
in
one
PDF
format.
Failure
to
submit
the
performance
appraisal
report
will
delay
the
promotion
exercise.