The name St Giles is derived from a Greek hermit who lived in France in the sixth century. One day the king who was hunting in the forest shot an arrow at a young deer and it fled to St Giles for protection. The arrow struck St Giles and left him disabled. St Giles was a very popular Saint in the middle ages and was said to have the power of healing. He is the traditional patron Saint of the sick often being associated with hospitals. He is also a Saint for animal lovers.
The Red Cross Polio Centre started off with a group of young mothers with children living with disabilities due to polio having monthly parties to entertain their children which they termed Sunflower parties. The venues for these parties started at Rhodesia Red Cross Society Hall which then prompted the opening of an experimental clinic the Red Cross Polio Centre in 1952. The initial funds to start the Polio Centre came from door to door collections made by the mothers and from these they managed to raise 14000 pounds to build the complex. Adjacent to the Polio Centre was the Cerebral Palsy Association which was formed in 1956 to specialise in the treatment of Cerebral Palsy children.
As the health industry evolved vaccinations were made available for polio and the Polio Centre became irrelevant in the scope of things. It then made sense at that point to join the two organizations and provide rehabilitation services to people with disabilities in general. The amalgamation took place in 1964 and the initial name given to the centre was the Salisbury Rehabilitation Centre. The name was then changed to St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre in the 1964’s.
The initial plan for the buildings was then expanded from original works to add on the now administration block, the adult ward, as well as some of the therapy units.
Mr Hove joined the St Giles Board in 2011. He is currently the Honorary Treasurer and Chairman of the Management and Finance Committee. He holds a Bachelor Accountancy degree from the University of Zimbabwe, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), having completed in 1996 and Chartered Institute of Secretaries, completed in 1990. He spent over 25 years in the banking and financial services sector.
Mr Jombe is a Businessman/Company Director who holds a Diploma in Salesmanship and Diploma in Business and Industrial Administration. He joined the St Giles Board in 2010 and is the current Vice Chairperson.
Mr Magwenjere joined the St Giles Board in 2004. He served as the Chairperson of the Board from 2006 to 2011. He is a retired Local Government Practitioner who served the local government at senior management level for forty years. He chairs the Harare Provincial National AIDS Council – multi-sectorial action committee. He chaired the Child Rights Provincial Committee, is a former member of Transparency International and Africities and a past member of the National Child Welfare Committee. Mr Magwenjere is married with four adult children and six grandchildren.
Dr Gondo joined the St Giles Board in 2012. He is a Medical Practitioner with special interests in paediatrics. He is the immediate past Medical Director of St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre and has 10 years experience in the public sector. He is currently in private practice for the past 10 years.
Mr Mubvumbi joined the St Giles Board in 2009. He served as the Vice Chairperson of the Board from 2011 to 2014 when he was appointed Chairperson. He is a retired City Treasurer. He holds the following qualifications:-
Prof. Chitsike joined St Giles Board in 2011. She is a Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences. She holds the following qualifications:-
Mr Nyamukonda is a businessman who joined the St Giles Board in 2011. He holds the following qualifications:-
Mr Mawerera served as the Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee before joining the St Giles Board of Governors in 2014. He is also a Board Member of The Source Trust (publishers of The Source, an online business and financial news agency) and is a Vice Chairperson of Rooftop Promotions, an arts and entertainment company. He holds the following qualifications:-
Mr Mawerera is the Director of Vivid Burson-Marsteller, a public relations firm.
Mr Manhambara joined the St Giles Board in 2014. He is the Group Chief Executive of Beta Holdings. He holds a BSc Economics (Hons) degree from the University of London and a Diploma in Business Studies.
Mr Makombe joined the St Giles Board in 2012. He holds the following qualifications:-
He is a pensioner, farmer and runs his own businesses.
Bart Mswaka joined St Giles in 2013 as the Chief Executive Officer. He graduated in Economics in 1980 from the University Of Zimbabwe. In 1981 Bart joined the staff of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe where he worked until 1989 when he left to join the Bank of Botswana as an Expatriate Manager. He left Botswana in 1996 and joined Fleming Martin Edwards (Edwards) as one of its managers. Bart left Edwards in 1999 to become the Managing Director of HSBC Securities (later to become ReNaissance Securities). Mr Mswaka is a registered Stockbroker and is a former Chairman of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. He is a pension fund trustee and Chairman of Fintrust Pension Fund, Comarton Preservation Fund and the Comarton Managed Pension Funds Consortium. He also sits on the Boards of Cimas, Untu Holdings Ltd and Makera Cattle Company.
Mr Mswaka is the Patron for the Pathway Primary School, a private school in Zengeza, Chitungwiza. Bart was recently appointed Board Member and Chairman of Zimbabwe Asset Management Company (ZAMCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Bart has three adult children and two grandsons.
Dr Abel Mazire joined St Giles in 2005 as a Medical Director. He received training in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Zimbabwe. He also trained in the Master of Public Health with Health Services Management. Dr Mazire also trained in Traumatology in Essex Ambulance Services in the United Kingdom. He is a Certified Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) clinician. He is a pioneer of National Trainer of Trainers for Profam (Professional Family Planning). Dr Mazire is a Researcher with UNFPA; and a Member of College of Primary Care Physicians.
Dr Mazire worked at UBH and Mpilo Hospitals (1995 – 1996) as Resident Medical Officer before being deployed as Government Medical Officer at Gweru Provincial Hospital and later as Acting Medical Superintendent. In 1998 he joined SOLIDAMED (NGO) and Driefontein Sanatorium as Medical Superintendent. He was later appointed District Medical Officer for Mvuma District.
In 2002 he was deployed to Kwekwe as District Medical Officer and Medical Superintendent. He also briefly acted as Provincial Medical Director for Midlands. Dr Mazire runs a private clinic and assists 2 orphanages.
Beauty Mushipe graduated with a bachelor and Master’s degree in Social Work from Curtin University and the University of Zimbabwe. She holds a certificate in People Management from IPMZ and is a registered Clinical Social Worker with the Health Professional Authority since 1999.
She joined St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre as a junior Social Worker in 1983. Over the 31 years at St Giles she has held several positions as the Centre restructured. She was promoted to head of department in 1985. In 1987 she was elected to represent staff in the St Giles Board. She also acted as Administrative Director in 1991 for 6 months. From 2001-2004 Beauty Mushipe was appointed Therapy Manager coordinating the therapy division before the new organisational structure that had been implemented was disbanded reverting back to Head of Social Work department a position which she still holds to date.
Beauty was instrumental in the placement of people with disabilities into formal employment such as banks and other sedentary occupations by matching people’s disabilities and capabilities with organizational requirements and providing support to both employee and employers to ensure successful placement, giving rise to her publication ‘Attitudes of Employers in the Employment of People with Disabilities’ – (1987)
She has been an executive member and organizing secretary for the National Association of Social Workers in Zimbabwe in 1982 and 1992 respectively. With the formation of the first Council of Social Workers in Zimbabwe in 2007, she was one of the executive members of the Council appointed by the President of Zimbabwe. Beauty is also involved in the training and supervision of Social Work students on field placement from certificate, diploma to degree level. She acts as a resource person given her extensive exposure and wealth of information on disability and rehabilitation for over 30 years.
Besides her professional commitments, Beauty was co-director for a family business for about 10 years. She loves meeting people, assisting family and communities when she can. She also loves reading, gardening and interior décor. Beauty has 3 grown up children, a daughter and two sons.
Sheillah Mungadzi joined St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre in 2003 as Sister in Charge of the Adult Ward. In 2008 she was upgraded to be the Matron of the whole Centre up to date.
She holds Diplomas and Certificates in General Nursing, Midwifery and Psychiatry. She has 30 years of medical experience and acts on behalf of the Medical Director whenever he is away.
Christine Mutowebunyu joined St Giles in 2004.Having served the Centre for 11 years she is the one who set up the Human Resources department. She is married with 3 children. She holds a B Com Hons Industrial Psychology from the University of the Western Cape.
Salome Cassandra Nziramasanga joined St Giles in 2008 as a student on attachment re-opening the Marketing department. She was then employed as a part time Event Co-ordinator in 2009(March – June). In August 2009 she was permanently employed by St Giles as a Marketing & PR Officer breaking the ground as the youngest member of the management team. Salome has grown the department from being non-existent to a vibrant department which has nurtured good relations with the corporate world. She is now a pension fund trustee as well a Committee member for the Disability Expo National Organising Committee. She is a holder of a Social Sciences degree from the Women’s University In Africa and a proud mother of two.
Doreen Mhike is a dynamic, hardworking individual with a vast experience in Medical Rehabilitation at St Giles since August 2007- 2009 as an Occupational therapist and Head of Department of Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy from 2009 up to date. She holds an Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy with the University of Zimbabwe and a Diploma in Systemic Family Counselling with the Zimbabwe Institute of Systemic Counselling.
Doreen is a strong team player in the Multidisciplinary Team at St Giles and also possesses excellent analytical, organizational and creative skills. She is also a Philanthropist whose passion is directed towards People with Disabilities, Vulnerable Children, Marginalized Communities and individuals in need of rehabilitation back into society. She celebrates the diversity of mankind, unleashing their potential as they are transformed and empowered to live productive, se/lf-managing and constructive lives.
In addition to being an Occupational Therapist, she has a strong desire to promote spiritual and purposeful lifestyles. At St Giles she facilitates the Sunday school programs for the children at our Hostel as well as general staff Lunch Hour prayers.
Anne Butau launched her Physiotherapy career in 2008 after graduating from the University of Kwazulu-Natal with a Bachelor of Science Physiotherapy degree. She joined St. Giles as a locum therapist and rose through the ranks to be the Head of Physiotherapy in 2009. She also attained an Executive Diploma in General management.
Ms. Butau is instrumental in the diversification of services in the department. In 2015 she became the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Physiotherapy Association's Harare branch. She is an International Rugby Board certified medic and the current Physiotherapist for Harare Sports Club Rugby Team. She is a team player who is motivated by the continuous need to be outstanding.
Peter Mandimutsira joined St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre in 2012 as Internal Auditor. He started his working life at Zimbabwe Sun Hotels where he worked as Internal Auditor from 1991 to 1994. He joined the Rainbow Tourism Group Ltd in 1994 and worked as the Group’s Internal Audit Manager up to 2010. He holds a Bachelor of Technology Honours Degree in Accounting and his aspiration is to obtain a Master’s in Business Administration.
Mrs Makaruse is the Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, having joined St Giles in May 2002. She is a holder of a Pitman Diploma in Secretarial Studies obtained from Ranche House College, where she won the City & Guilds bronze medal in her computer studies against worldwide competition. Before joining St Giles Mrs Makaruse worked in various Government departments. She is a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 1.
St Giles is a medical rehabilitation centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of adults and children with all types of physical disability. It is a registered Welfare Organisation.
We aim to be the leading provider of rehabilitation services in Zimbabwe, through professional staff, contemporary technology and best administrative practice. Our constant focus is on the achievement of optimum independence by all whom we serve.
To rehabilitate the injured or sick person and return them to Society at the highest physical and functional level.
To provide assessment, therapy and management of children with physical, sensory and learning difficulties.