The Cimas Bulawayo Medical Centre has officially taken on a new name, becoming the Sipho Zwana Medical Centre, in honour of the late Dr Sipho Leonard Vivian Zwana, one of Zimbabwe’s pioneering medical practitioners.

Dr Zwana (1933–2019) made history as Zimbabwe’s first Black anaesthetist and a pioneering clinician whose remarkable 52 years of service helped open doors for generations of Zimbabwean medical specialists.

His contribution to healthcare extended far beyond his historic achievement. Through more than five decades in the profession, Dr Zwana left an enduring mark on Zimbabwe’s medical landscape and became part of a generation of Black professionals who helped reshape access and opportunities within the country’s healthcare sector.

He also made history as the first Black doctor to work at Mpilo Hospital, further cementing his place in the medical history of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe.

The commemorative plaque marking the new name was unveiled today by Honourable Judith Mkwanda Ncube, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.
She was joined at the ceremony by members of the Zwana family, Cimas Health Group Chief Executive Officer Vulindlela Ndlovu, Provincial Medical Director Dr Siamuchembu, and Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo Councillor Edwin Ndlovu.
For Cimas, the renaming forms part of milestones marking the organisation’s 80th anniversary and represents an opportunity to recognise a Zimbabwean whose life reflected service, excellence and possibility.

Naming a healthcare facility after Dr Zwana gives his legacy a permanent presence in the city where he made an important contribution to medical history.

Every patient, healthcare worker and visitor who walks through the doors will encounter a name connected to a story of dedication and pioneering service.
The significance of the occasion extends beyond the plaque itself.
It is a recognition that the progress of Zimbabwean medicine was built not only through institutions and technology, but also through individuals who opened doors for those who came after them.

Dr Zwana’s 52-year career stands as one such legacy.
For the Zwana family, the new name represents the continuation of a story that began with one doctor’s commitment to medicine and grew into a contribution remembered by an entire profession.

As the Cimas Bulawayo Medical Centre begins its next chapter as the Sipho Zwana Medical Centre, the name of a medical pioneer will remain firmly connected to the city and the profession he served.

Cimas also expressed its appreciation to the Zwana family for sharing Dr Zwana’s remarkable legacy with Zimbabwe, ensuring that his story continues to inspire future generations.