Professor Solwayo Ngwenya has finally been appointed substantive Chief Medical Officer of Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, ending years of serving in an acting capacity and bringing certainty to the leadership of Zimbabwe’s second-largest referral hospital.
The appointment was announced on Tuesday in an internal notice to staff.
“Professor Solwayo Ngwenya has been appointed to the new post of Chief Executive Officer for Mpilo Central Hospital, and has already assumed the duties of the office,” the notice reads.
The circular issued by the Chief Medical Office urged hospital staff to support the new leadership in improving healthcare delivery.
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“The Government of Zimbabwe, the patients and all our partners expect all of us to give our best to safeguard patient safety and well-being at all times, working together as a team with a shared goal of giving quality service delivery to our patients in a compassionate and dignified way. We should desist from acts of indiscipline and corruption,” read the notice.
The appointment formalises a role Prof Ngwenya has effectively been performing since the retirement of former Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narcisius Dzvanga on 25 December 2025.
Dr Dzvanga’s retirement created a vacancy in one of the country’s most senior public health management positions, with Prof Ngwenya, who was serving as Clinical Director, taking over in an acting capacity.
When the Ministry of Health and Child Care advertised the substantive post in February this year through Health Services Commission Vacancy Circular No. 6 of 2026, the position was described as one that reports directly to the Permanent Secretary and carries responsibility for providing strategic leadership and ensuring compliance with national health standards and regulatory requirements.
The advert outlined demanding expectations for the successful candidate, requiring a medical degree, specialist qualifications, registration with the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe, extensive clinical experience and at least two years at director level.
Beyond academic and professional qualifications, the job called for a leader capable of driving strategic planning, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, strengthening organisational systems, reviewing management plans, engaging stakeholders, communicating effectively and making sound analytical decisions.
Candidates were also required to undergo psychometric testing.
Those expectations now fall to Prof Ngwenya, who will be expected to steer Mpilo through persistent challenges affecting Zimbabwe’s public health sector, including maintaining patient safety, improving service delivery, strengthening accountability and restoring public confidence in the institution.
During his tenure as acting Chief Medical Officer, Prof Ngwenya introduced a number of reforms aimed at improving professionalism and accountability at the hospital while overseeing day-to-day operations.
In an interview with CITE after the appointment,Prof Ngwenya said he was committed to building a stronger and more responsive referral hospital.
“We are already working hard to improve service delivery for patients and reduce overall mortality at the hospital. Together with our staff and partners, we want to strengthen patient safety, improve efficiency, promote accountability and make sure every patient receives quality care delivered with compassion and dignity,” he said.
Prof Ngwenya’s substantive appointment also marks the culmination of a leadership journey that has not been without controversy.
In 2022, Prof Ngwenya was widely expected to become Mpilo’s substantive chief executive officer after serving as Clinical Director and later acting CEO following the departure of then-chief executive Leonard Mabhandi.
However, the position instead went to Dr Dzvanga, then acting chief executive officer at United Bulawayo Hospitals, despite reports that he had applied for the UBH post rather than the Mpilo position.
At the time, sources familiar with the recruitment process alleged that Prof Ngwenya had applied for the Mpilo chief executive position while Dr Dzvanga had sought the UBH post.
The appointment fuelled debate within the health sector, with some questioning how the positions had ultimately been allocated.
Nearly four years later, Prof Ngwenya has now secured the substantive leadership position, ending years of uncertainty over Mpilo’ top post.
A renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist, Prof Ngwenya holds multiple local and international qualifications, including an MBChB from the University of Zimbabwe, a PhD from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), fellowships from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the United Kingdom and the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of East, Central and Southern Africa.
He is also a statistician and epidemiologist.
His appointment comes at a time when Mpilo Central Hospital continues to face significant operational pressures, including ageing infrastructure, equipment shortages, staff retention challenges and growing demand for specialist healthcare services.
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