A 29-year-old man, Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone, posed as a doctor at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for two years, treating unsuspecting patients and charging them for consultations. According to Dr. Narcisius Dzvanga, the hospital’s chief medical officer, Vanhuvaone had an office at the facility and used the same consultation room for months.
Vanhuvaone’s deceit was extensive, with allegations of posing as a doctor at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) as well. He claimed to have been seconded from Mpilo, using this tactic to avoid detection. The imposter would take patients directly from the out-patient queue, charging them for consultations and pocketing the fees.
His ruse was eventually exposed when he demanded payment from a patient who was short US$12. Dr. Dzvanga expressed disbelief over how Vanhuvaone managed to work undetected for so long, stating, “I am a practising physician. I have not seen him anywhere before in the corridors. Maybe he knew how to avoid me.”
Vanhuvaone has been arrested and faces charges of fraud and misrepresentation. The hospital is now investigating how the imposter integrated himself into the system for an extended period. This incident raises concerns about the hospital’s security and verification processes, and an inquiry is underway to prevent similar incidents in the future.
