Solwayo Ngwenya

Solwayo Ngwenya is a Zimbabwean obstetrician and gynaecologist, medical academic and hospital administrator. He is a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe (NUST) and chief executive officer of Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo. He previously served as the hospital's acting chief executive officer and clinical director.

Ngwenya's research focuses on maternal mortality, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, postpartum haemorrhage and obstetric care in low-resource settings. His work has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals, including BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, International Journal of Women's Health, Pregnancy Hypertension and Tropical Doctor.

Early life and education

Ngwenya was born in Lupane District, Matabeleland North. He attended primary school in Lupane before completing his secondary education in Bulawayo and at Thornhill High School in Gweru. He graduated in medicine from the University of Zimbabwe and later undertook postgraduate specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Alongside his clinical practice, Ngwenya joined the faculty of the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe, where he became professor of obstetrics and gynaecology.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe, Ngwenya became a prominent medical commentator in the country. He advocated vaccination, mask wearing and other public-health measures and helped establish COVID-19 PCR testing capacity at Mpilo Central Hospital in collaboration with NUST. In May 2020, he warned that infections among staff and patients at Mpilo could produce a serious outbreak at the hospital.

Research

Ngwenya's research centres on improving maternal and neonatal outcomes in low-resource settings. His publications have examined severe pre-eclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage, maternal mortality, stillbirth, emergency obstetric care and rare obstetric conditions. He has also developed statistical models for predicting adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with severe pre-eclampsia.

Personal life

Ngwenya has publicly advocated the preservation of traditional African cultural practices. He has spoken in support of polygyny, describing it as part of his cultural heritage. His family life has received media attention in Zimbabwe through interviews discussing his polygamous household.

Selected publications