Shocking claims about conditions inside the Renal Unit at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have surfaced on social media, sparking renewed concern over the state of public healthcare in Zimbabwe.
An anonymous Facebook user shared a distressing personal account with social media personality Thomas Chizhanje, who has recently been documenting stories from inside the country’s largest referral hospital.
The individual, reportedly a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patient, painted a grim picture of life inside the Ward B10 renal unit, where they say patients face unsanitary conditions, equipment failure, and systemic neglect.
In the now-viral message, the patient explained that they frequently visit Parirenyatwa for dialysis, which should be provided free of charge. However, they alleged that some nurses demand informal payments in exchange for securing dialysis sessions and sell consumables that are supposed to be distributed at no cost.
“Dialysis at Parirenyatwa is free, but if you don’t pay some of the nurses, they’ll delay your hours,” the message reads. “They even sell the supplies we should get for free.”
The individual described a disturbing incident where strapping material used to secure cannulas ran out hospital-wide, and patients were instructed to buy it themselves—despite already struggling financially.
They also said dialysis machines are outdated or not functioning, raising risks of infection and blood clots.
“Water was leaking into the ward where we receive dialysis. That area should be sterile. It’s dangerous,” the person added.
With most private facilities charging upwards of US$150 per dialysis session, the individual noted that many low-income patients are effectively left without viable treatment options.
“You need three sessions a week to stay alive,” they said. “I’m just a vendor. I can’t afford that. My heart is bleeding.”
Thomas Chizhanje, a digital content creator with a large following, has recently been publishing testimonies from patients and insiders at Parirenyatwa Hospital, exposing alleged corruption, medical negligence, and systemic breakdowns in service delivery.
This latest account has added to a growing wave of public pressure on the Ministry of Health and Child Care to investigate conditions at the hospital, particularly in critical care units like renal and maternity.
Healthcare advocates say the testimony reflects deeper issues across the public health system, where underfunding, corruption, and neglect have become routine. Calls are mounting for structural reforms, better resource allocation, and greater transparency in hospital operations.
At the time of publishing, officials at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals had not responded to requests for comment.
As patients continue to speak out—many anonymously, for fear of retaliation—there is growing hope that public pressure will finally force a long-overdue overhaul of Zimbabwe’s collapsing healthcare infrastructure.
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