A 51-year-old woman died during a throat operation allegedly carried out by a fake and unlicensed doctor at a house in Chitungwiza, in a case that has renewed concern about people posing as medical professionals in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police said Douglas Mutore, 40, had been arrested in connection with the death of Magret Gwamura. The police said Gwamura died on 24 September during an operation to remove a growth from her throat at a house in Unit D, Seke, Chitungwiza.
The procedure was allegedly performed with a surgical blade. Police said Mutore fled after the woman died, but officers who attended the scene recovered surgical instruments, blood-stained bandages and used medication. Investigators also established that Mutore did not have practising certificates when he was arrested.
Police said: “This follows the arrest of Douglas Mutore (40) in connection with the death of Magret Gwamura (51), who died during an alleged surgical procedure to remove a growth from her throat.”
They added: “On 24/09/26, the suspect allegedly performed the procedure at a house in Unit D, Seke, Chitungwiza, using a surgical blade. The victim died during the procedure, after which the suspect allegedly fled from the scene. Police attended the scene and recovered surgical instruments, blood-stained bandages and used medication. Police established that the suspect was not in possession of practising certificates at the time of his arrest.”
The case is the latest in a series of incidents in which people have entered hospitals, worn medical clothing, approached patients or presented themselves as doctors without the qualifications or registration required to practise.
One of the most striking earlier cases involved Admire Chisi, who was 25 when he was detained in October 2020 after spending about seven months in the Accident and Emergency Department at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare. Hospital staff became suspicious of his conduct and questioned his medical proficiency.
A statement from Parirenyatwa said: “On October 20 2020, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals discovered that the Accident and Emergency Department had been infiltrated by a fake medical doctor who posed as a physician registrar.”
The hospital said: “The matter was discovered after our vigilant casualty staff doubted his medical proficiency and made some inquiries. The suspect has been handed over to the police who are now handling the matter.”
Chisi was reported to have attended to patients and written medical affidavits and prescriptions while claiming to be a doctor. He was later taken to court facing charges connected to impersonating a public official and fraud. A senior doctor, Dr Tapiwa Nyakudya, reportedly noticed anomalies and asked Chisi to produce a practising certificate.
The hospital also moved to correct reports that Chisi had treated a road-traffic-accident victim. Its records stated that the patient had been attended to by genuine doctors and that Chisi was not involved in managing that case.
In Bulawayo, another case emerged at Mpilo Central Hospital in September 2024. Prosper Mpofu, also known as Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone, was arrested after he was found attending to patients while pretending to be a registered medical practitioner.
The 29-year-old was reported to have written an unusual prescription referring to Lacto and fruits, including apples and grapes. The incident came to light after patients looking for him were directed towards hospital authorities. He later appeared in court facing charges linked to unregistered medical practice, misrepresentation and fraud.
The court heard that he had allegedly charged one patient US$120 for treatment after claiming to be a registered doctor. He was also accused of taking US$1,600 from a woman after promising to secure her a place at Mpilo Hospital’s School of Nursing.
The prosecutor said: “He contravened section 121 of the Health Professions Act Chapter 27:19 (Unregistered Persons Practicing as Registered or representing themselves to Be Medical Practitioners).”
Mpofu’s case also raised questions about how long an impostor could operate around a major hospital. Internal hospital inquiries later indicated that he had allegedly operated from an office on the hospital premises for about two years, with investigators also examining claims involving United Bulawayo Hospitals.
Parirenyatwa faced another cluster of arrests in April 2024. Douglas Garikayi Mutoredzanwa was arrested on 23 April after a doctor became suspicious when he picked up an X-ray and appeared to examine it upside down. The 37-year-old, according to one report, entered a consultation room and told a doctor that he was also a medical practitioner.
Hospital security was called after he could not satisfactorily explain his presence. A search reportedly recovered two surgical blades, pethidine, three syringes, cotton, cannula-sensitive tape and gloves. When asked whether he was a doctor, he reportedly told the magistrate that he was a nurse.
A hospital source said: “He took pethidine, which is a dangerous drug, and there are procedures that are supposed to be taken when a doctor or nurse wants to administer that drug to a patient.”
Parirenyatwa later said its investigations had established that the three fake doctors arrested in that period had not managed any patient.
Blessing Nyanzira, 24, was arrested at the same hospital on 25 April 2024 after allegedly trying to pass through a staff security checkpoint. He was wearing a scrub jacket and a stethoscope and reportedly produced two identity cards bearing names different from the one on his clothing.
Nyanzira first claimed to be a medical doctor and later said he was a student doctor at the University of Zimbabwe. Checks with the university reportedly found that he was neither a registered doctor nor a student there. He was taken to court facing impersonation charges and was remanded in custody for a bail application.
Andrew Mapulanga, 52, was also arrested at Parirenyatwa in April. He appeared before a Harare magistrate on a charge of possessing articles for criminal use. Reports said the arrest followed the discovery of items linked to criminal activity during the hospital’s security operations.
The hospital’s own figures indicate that the problem extends beyond a few isolated arrests. Parirenyatwa said its Security Department picked up 33 offenders in 2023. The figure included people who posed as doctors or tutors, as well as thieves targeting staff and patients.
The hospital said: “In 2023 alone, 33 offenders were picked up by our Security Department.” It also said: “From January 2024 to date, 11 cases of this nature have been picked up by the same department and dealt with accordingly.”
The hospital described the suspects as including bogus doctors, bogus tutors who extorted prospective student nurses, and thieves who stole from staff and patients. It said some of those arrested were handed over to police, while its investigations found that the three fake doctors detained in April had not managed any patient.
The deaths, hospital arrests and reports of stolen medicines point to the need for patients and families to check a practitioner’s registration before accepting treatment, particularly when services are offered outside recognised medical facilities. Police urged the public to verify the credentials of anyone offering medical services and to seek treatment from registered practitioners and recognised health institutions.
The police said: “The ZRP urges the public to verify the credentials of persons offering medical services and to seek treatment from registered medical practitioners and recognised health institutions.”