Two Harare Men Arrested Over Fake Nursing Recruitment Scam

Two Harare men have been arrested for collecting money from aspiring nurses after falsely claiming they could secure places for them at nursing schools through the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

21-year-old Panashe Sanyika and 77-year-old Erice Tazvinzwa are accused of targeting members of the public through WhatsApp advertisements offering nursing places for US$1,000.

The pair operated together with Edith Chidhakwa, who has not yet been arrested.

Also Read: Woman Arrested Over Fake Parirenyatwa Nursing Recruitment Scheme

Applicants Lured By Nursing Intake Offers

According to The Herald, the scheme came to light after two women responded to advertisements circulating in WhatsApp groups in September 2026.

The advertisements allegedly presented the accused as people who could facilitate nursing admissions at various institutions across Zimbabwe.

One of the women, 52-year-old Ireen Phiri, reportedly contacted Sanyika after responding to the advert.

Sanyika allegedly assured her that he was an agent working on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care and could arrange a nursing place for her.

After Phiri negotiated for a lower fee, the recruitment charge was allegedly reduced from US$1,000 to US$800, with an additional US$15 requested for a nursing uniform.

She subsequently paid the money to Sanyika and Tazvinzwa.

Promised Places Fail To Materialise

Sanyika reportedly told Phiri that her nursing place would be secured within two weeks.

However, the deadline passed without the promised placement being provided.

Phiri subsequently discovered that the Ministry of Health and Child Care does not use recruiting agents to enrol students into its nursing programmes.

She then reported the matter to the police.

A second woman, 48-year-old Ireen Guza, allegedly fell victim to a similar arrangement.

Guza, who works as a supervisor at Simscore Cleaning Services, reportedly responded to the same type of WhatsApp advertisement before being directed to Sanyika.

He allegedly again claimed to be an authorised nursing recruitment agent.

After Guza requested a discount, the recruitment fee was allegedly reduced to US$700, while another US$65 was charged for a nursing uniform.

She allegedly paid the combined US$765 to Sanyika and Tazvinzwa after being promised a nursing place within two weeks.

That placement also failed to materialise.

Guza later learnt that the ministry does not employ agents to recruit nursing students and subsequently made a police report.

Pair Appear In Court

The two men were subsequently brought before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai facing two counts of fraud.

Tazvinzwa was remanded out of custody, while Sanyika was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.

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