Paul Nyathi|Mpilo Central Hospital held its nurses graduation and prize giving day under the protection of police at the Bulawayo Large City Hall Wednesday to thwart off any interference from members of the public who might feel hard done by the recent ‘controversial ’ nursing recruitment at the institution.

The central hospital was caught up in a storm recently where out of its 24 newly recruited nurses only four students are local which raised the ire of activists and political parties.

ZAPU besieged Mpilo’s nursing school and temporarily halted lessons demanding a fresh recruitment that would include more locals.

Previously, hospitals advertised nurse training vacancies and did the recruitment but this year, the government decided to use an online application system and recruitment process which led to the controversy.

A ZAPU delegation led by its national organising secretary, Retired Lieutenant Colonel John Zolane Dlamini met with the Mpilo CEO, Leonard Mabhandi, Clinical Director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, and other administrative staff over the recruitment process.

Dlamini inquired what government policy was in place which neglected locals in their own setting and one that institutions such as Mpilo implemented without questioning.

In the run up to the graduation ceremony rumours went around the city that Mthwakazi Activists and ZAPU supporters were going to disrupt the ceremony to attack the so claimed predominant Shona graduate nurses.

Police were deployed both at the hospital in the morning and at the graduation venue in anticipation of trouble.

However no trouble took place, as the graduation went ahead as scheduled.