CIMAS Health Group has honoured Zimbabwe’s first black female medical doctor, Dr Madeline Nyamwanza-Makonese, by renaming its Van Praagh Medical Centre in Harare after her, recognising her pioneering role in breaking racial and gender barriers in medicine and advancing healthcare in the country.
The move celebrates Dr Nyamwanza-Makonese’s historic achievement in 1970, when she became the first black female medical doctor in Zimbabwe and the first African woman to graduate from the country’s medical school.
The renaming ceremony, held in Harare yesterday, brought together healthcare professionals and family members to celebrate her distinguished career, dedication to patient care and contribution to national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Chief Medical Officer and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital head Hopewell Mungani said the gesture honoured a trailblazer who overcame racial and gender barriers in the medical profession.
Dr Nyamwanza-Makonese made history in 1970 by becoming Zimbabwe’s first black female medical doctor and the first African woman to graduate from the country’s medical school.
“As the only woman in a class of 25, she broke through formidable racial and gender barriers, demonstrating that talent, determination and excellence must never be limited by one’s background or circumstances,” said Mungani.
He said her contribution to maternal and child health, advocacy for women’s education and mentorship of young professionals had helped open doors for future generations.
In recognition of her contribution, Government honoured her in August 2025 with the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Commendation Award for Service in Human Capital Development.
Mungani said the renaming should inspire healthcare professionals to uphold the values of compassion, dignity and professionalism that define Dr Nyamwanza-Makonese’s legacy.
“The greatest tribute to her legacy will not be the name above this entrance, but the quality of care delivered within these halls,” he said.
He called for greater collaboration among Government, private healthcare providers and medical aid societies to improve access to affordable, quality healthcare as Zimbabwe advances towards universal health coverage.
“The patient must never become the casualty of disputes between institutions that should be working together,” said Mungani.
He said disagreements over tariffs, co-payments and settlements should be addressed through dialogue, transparency and fair, sustainable arrangements that prioritise patients.
Cimas Health Group chief executive officer Vuli Ndlovu said the organisation had grown from a medical aid society established in 1945 into an integrated healthcare network spanning more than 11 disciplines.
The group operates nearly 50 units across more than 19 locations and has expanded its workforce from about 300 employees a decade ago to approximately 1 000, about a third of whom are clinicians.
Ndlovu said strategic partnerships and investment in healthcare professionals drove the organisation’s growth.
“A building does not heal anyone. A doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist or a dentist who is trusted and properly supported does,” he said.
He said the renamed centre reflected the value of integrated healthcare by bringing wellness services, general practice, dental care and radiology together under one roof, allowing patients to access multiple services without travelling across the city.
Ndlovu also raised concern over the shortage of young general practitioners, calling for family medicine to be promoted as an attractive career option for medical graduates.
“The family doctor knows the whole patient, the whole household, and the whole story. This is the speciality that holds the health system together,” he said.
He said Cimas, through its Health Education Fund, had supported 65 beneficiaries since the programme was established in 2007. These include 25 undergraduates and, since around 2015, 36 medical specialists and four specialist nurses.
The beneficiaries have trained in 19 specialties and subspecialties, with some now contributing their expertise in public hospitals.
Ndlovu said the organisation had helped train about five percent of Zimbabwe’s specialist doctors, whose total number he estimated at approximately 750.
However, he warned that rising healthcare costs were placing increasing pressure on medical aid members. He attributed the rising expenditure to imported medicines, new technologies and other factors, as well as unnecessary tests, repeat consultations, over-prescription and fraud.
“For the current year to date, our claims ratio has reached 80 percent,” he said, calling for measures to curb waste and abuse while ensuring healthcare remained sustainable and accessible.
Dr Nyamwanza-Makonese’s husband, Eben Makonese, said the family was deeply honoured that Cimas had chosen to name the medical centre after his wife.
“To us as a family, it represents the values, compassion and unwavering dedication that Madeline has embodied throughout her career and life,” he said.
Makonese recalled his wife’s unwavering commitment to her patients, recounting how she insisted on visiting her private surgery on Christmas Day in case someone needed medical attention, despite living about 30 kilometres away.
“I looked at her, smiled and thought to myself, sometimes even the most brilliant people have an absent-minded professor moment. I gently reminded her, ‘My dear, today is Christmas,’” he said.
“She looked back at me and calmly replied that she knew, but she had decided to drive to the surgery just in case a patient was waiting and needed help.”
Makonese said the incident illustrated his wife’s dedication to her profession and the people she served.
He recalled that, at the time, a child’s consultation fee was US$1, while adults paid US$5.
The family, he said, was proud that Cimas had chosen to associate the facility with an institution dedicated to healing, innovation and quality patient care.
“Our prayer and hope for this centre are that every person who walks through these doors, whether seeking treatment, comfort or routine care, will experience not only world-class medical expertise, but also the warmth, dignity and compassion that Dr Madeline Nyamwanza-Makonese represents,” he said.
