Zimbabwe Begins Renovations at Parirenyatwa Hospital Following Presidential Visit
The Zimbabwean government has commenced renovations at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, starting with Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital and Adlam House, a residential facility for student nurses.
The move follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent visits to Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, prompted by growing public concern over the deteriorating state of the country’s major public health institutions.
In the aftermath of the visits, Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba acknowledged the critical condition of public hospitals, citing issues such as infrastructure decay, policy deficiencies, and chronic system overload as major challenges undermining healthcare delivery.
Shortly thereafter, a private company contracted and funded by the government began renovation work at Parirenyatwa, marking the start of broader efforts to revamp Zimbabwe’s public health infrastructure and raise standards toward international benchmarks.
During a tour of Parirenyatwa Hospital, Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, said the facility is undergoing modernization to meet world-class healthcare standards.
“Renovations are currently underway at two key locations — Adlam House, which provides accommodation for student nurses, and the Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital,” he said.
Dr. Mombeshora noted that Adlam House had suffered extensive damage, affecting the roof, ceilings, flooring, sewer systems, and water infrastructure. He expressed hope that the first block of renovations would be completed by early September.
Regarding the maternity hospital, he acknowledged that significant work was still required, with limited progress made so far.
“We had to temporarily relocate some patients from the maternity ward to allow the renovation work to proceed,” he added.
The renovations are part of a broader government effort to improve Zimbabwe’s public healthcare infrastructure following widespread public concern and a recent inspection by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Comprehensive Overhaul Planned for Parirenyatwa Hospital
Minister Mombeshora further revealed that preliminary assessments are currently underway to inform a comprehensive renovation plan for Parirenyatwa Hospital, aimed at transforming it into a modern, fully equipped healthcare facility.
“The next phase will focus on the main hospital building. Renovations will be done in phases, as we cannot afford to shut down the entire facility,” he explained.
The assessments will determine the extent of infrastructure damage and guide the rollout of the modernization process. However, no timeline has been confirmed, as evaluations are still ongoing.
“We hope to deliver a completely modernized hospital, comparable to international standards. This will include new beds, upgraded theatre equipment, advanced X-ray and CT scan machines, and a fully functional healthcare environment by the time the revamped facility becomes operational,” the minister added.
The renovation initiative comes against the backdrop of long-standing neglect of Zimbabwe’s general hospitals under President Mnangagwa’s administration. The sector has faced widespread challenges, including crumbling infrastructure, critical medicine shortages, high patient costs, and chronic understaffing—factors that have severely impacted service delivery and contributed to a massive brain drain in the healthcare profession.