About Us
A Few Words
Our Story
St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre traces its roots back to the early 1950s, when a group of devoted mothers of children affected by polio began hosting “Sunflower Parties” to bring joy and community to their families. These monthly gatherings grew into a formal clinic, the Red Cross Polio Centre, officially established in 1952 with funds raised through door-to-door collections.
As polio vaccination became widespread, the centre expanded its mission beyond polio care. In 1964, the Polio Centre merged with a cerebral palsy organisation to form what is now known as St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
Why Choose Us
Why Saint Giles
St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre is one of Zimbabwe’s leading rehabilitation institutions, with a proud history spanning over six decades. Established to serve individuals living with physical disabilities and functional limitations, St Giles has grown into a trusted centre of excellence for comprehensive, patient-centred rehabilitation services.
Our mission is to empower individuals of all ages to live more independent, dignified, and purposeful lives. We do this by delivering holistic rehabilitation care that addresses not only physical recovery, but also emotional, developmental, and social wellbeing.
Certified Care
Our multidisciplinary team of skilled professionals works closely with patients, families, and caregivers to develop personalised care plans tailored to each individual’s goals and abilities. We believe rehabilitation is a partnership—one built on compassion, respect, and collaboration.
Our Vision
To become the leading and preferred provider of medical rehabilitation services in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Our Mission
To provide comprehensive rehabilitation, nursing, and consultancy services that support recovery and promote functional independence for everyone we serve.
Our Approach
At St Giles, rehabilitation isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. We adopt a multidisciplinary, team-based model, where physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and doctors work in close cooperation to craft a personalised recovery plan for each patient.
Great Staff
Our Impact
We are proud of our legacy: thousands of patients (children and adults) have regained mobility, confidence, and independence.
Our facilities include inpatient wards, paediatric and adult services, therapy units, a school for children with special needs, and mobility-aid workshops.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Brethren Manzongo
Board Chairperson
Joined St Giles in the Marketing and Business Development Committee in 2016. Self motivated and results oriented cost management specialist with a 26 year managerial footprint in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. Holder of a Masters in Professional Accounting and Corporate Governance, Bcom in Accounting and HND in Hospitality and Tourism. Passionate about rebuilding lives to functional independence.
Mrs. Lillian Chikara
Vice Board Chairperson
Lillian N S Chikara is an experienced development practitioner with over 30 years of work experience in areas of health, gender, fund raising, and development work. A Master of Science (MSc) in Development Studies, BA Development Studies, a Diploma in Adult Education, and several nursing diplomas Lillian has the academic and professional expertise to contribute to strategic and organisational development. Has experience working with government of Zimbabwe in the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as the Department of Social Welfare, Private Sector, NGOs and a Bilateral Donor Agency the Embassy of the Netherlands. Currently working as National Director for Special Olympics Zimbabwe a PVO for children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Lillian brings a health and development perspective as well as fund raising experience not for profit knowledge -to the board in addition to a gender and disability inclusion lens to St Giles’ works.
Trish Henson
Board Member
Trish Henson came to St Giles with a passion to restore it to a facility of excellence after the accident of her youngest son. He had a spinal cord injury which made him a quadriplegic. Trish has a farming and business background. She is married to Bob and is a mother to 3 sons, and grandmother to 7 grandchildren. She loves backgammon, spending time with her family, and is passionate about doing the Lord’s work to benefit the community.
Mr Chamunorwa Nyamukonda
Board Member
Mr Nyamukonda is a businessman who joined the St Giles Board in 2011. He holds the following qualifications:-
- Bachelor of Commerce – University of South Africa
- MBA – Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA)
- Registered Public Accountant (Zimbabwe)
- Certified Public Accountant (Zimbabwe)
- Member – Institute of Public Accountants (Zimbabwe)
Tariro Makanga
Board Member
Tariro Makanga-Chikumbirike is a seasoned Health and Development Senior Communication Specialist Consultant with extensive experience in supporting HIV, TB, and Malaria, COVID-19, Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights interventions targeted at different audiences in East and Southern Africa. She has over 20 years’ expertise and experience in creatively harnessing media, information, communication technology (ICT) methodologies, with exceptional skills in conceptualisation, development, production, and implementing Health and Development Communication programs for all spheres of the media fraternity. She is also a Television Talk Show host, with a focus on health and social development issues. She is a holder of a Diploma in Mass Communication (Broadcast Makor), BA Media Studies, MA in Mass Communication, Masters in Business Development (MBA) and is working on her final DBA submission.
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Shumirayi M Makaruse
PA to the CEO
Mrs Makaruse 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.
Dr Abel Mazire
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Medical Director
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 received training in Traumatology in Essex Ambulance Services in the United Kingdom and 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 an NGO which made it possible for him to assist in training foreign doctors in Mission Hospitals and also part of ZACH (Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals). He was later deployed at Driefontein Sanatorium as Medical Superintendent and later appointed District Medical Officer for Mvuma District. In 2002, Dr Mazire was transferred to Kwekwe as District Medical Officer and Medical Superintendent and acted as Provincial Medical Director for Midlands before joining St Giles Dr Mazire in involved in Charity work and assists in running orphanages in Harare and Midlands. He has played a pivotal role in sourcing numerous infrastructural developments at the Centre
Beauty Nyapokoto
Matron
Mrs Beauty Nyapokoto is the Matron at St Giles in charge of the Wards, Catering, Hostel, grounds and housekeeping. She joined St Giles as Sister in charge of the ward in January 2013. Mrs Nyapokoto was the promoted to Matron in 2021 a role she has held relentlessly for the past three years. A registered General Nurse, who completed here training in April 1999 at Luisa Guidotti School of nursing. She then went on to train as a mid-wife in 2004 at Chitungwiza School of mid-wifery. Beauty then assumed the role of Sr- In -Charge at St Michaels Mission hospital from 2006 to 2012 before joining St Giles in 2021.A devoted Christian who enjoys assisting in pastoral work in her parish
Emilia Muchemwa
Accountant
Emilia Muchemwa joined St Giles in 2014(March to December) She then re-joined St Giles in 2020 as an Accountant. She has been heading the Finance and Admin Department since then fully in charge of Accounts, Workshop(maintenance), stores and transport divisions. She is a member of ICSAZ and has been an Accountant since 2002 holding various positions in several institutions in Legal, Manufacturing, Education, Medical and IT. She has vast experience in dealing with banks both locally and internationally. To date Emilia has been instrumental in keeping the Centre afloat even during its darkest days when cashflows are highly constrained. She is a member of hope trust and several NGOs that deal with vulnerable children. Besides her professional commitments Emilia loves assisting people and is a counsellor. She loves marketing and farming. She is a mother of 1 son
Precious Chikoore
Marketing Officer
Precious Chikoore is a seasoned marketer with vast experience in brand management, Stakeholder management, sales and business development and customer experience & relationship management. She holds a Diploma in Marketing and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) as well as a Masters of Commerce in Marketing Strategy with Midlands State University (MSU). She joined St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre as Marketing Officer in 2022, overally in charge of Marketing and Business Development function. Precious has worked for various industries throughout her 19 years of working experience. Her career in marketing started off in 2004, where she worked as a Sales Order Clerk for Zimbabwe Fertilizer Company one of the largest fertilizers manufacturing companies in Zimbabwe. Four years later she moved to James North a safety wear and PVC material manufacturing organization where she held the position of Business Development Executive. Her role was instrumental in Business growth and expansion of the export market in Zambia. In 2012, Precious joined First Mutual Health (FMH) one of the largest Medical Aid Funder in Zimbabwe where she was instrumental in membership growth and revenue growth. FMH’s brand grew to be recognized as super brand. She gained experience in business and product development, brand and customer relationship management and strategic partnerships. Precious moved to Fidelity Medical Aid Society (FLIMAS) in 2018 as a Business Development Consultant and was promoted in March 2022 to Brand Officer in for the ZIMRE Holdings Group of companies and its subsidiaries. Precious is a Marketing Specialist, with great passion for customer satisfaction and a keen eye for detail. Her experience in sales, marketing and business development enables her to confidently handle any task in any sector. She is devout Christian and a proud mother to two girls.