The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man for allegedly impersonating a nurse at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
Police said Godwin Sanyika had been posing as a State Registered General Nurse, wearing a blue nurse’s uniform.
His arrest on Friday, 11 September, led to the recovery of various medications, gauze swabs, needles and syringes.
“Police in Harare arrested Godwin Sanyika (38) at Sally Mugabe Hospital in connection with impersonation,” the ZRP said.
“The suspect allegedly masqueraded as a nurse while wearing a state Registered General Nurse blue uniform.
“The arrest led to the recovery of various medications, gauze swabs, needles and syringes.”
In recent years, there has been a recurring problem at Zimbabwe’s public hospitals involving bogus medical professionals.
One prominent case is that of Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone, who masqueraded as a doctor at Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals. Posing as “Dr Prosper Mpofu,” he reportedly worked undetected at both institutions for close to two years.
Beyond his impersonation, Vanhuvaone ran a side scam in which he charged prospective nursing students, as well as qualified nurses seeking jobs in the UK, for training places and sponsorship documents he could never actually provide, defrauding victims of roughly US$8,165.
His cover was eventually blown after genuine doctors grew suspicious of unusual medical advice he had given a patient.
Vanhuvaone was convicted on multiple counts of fraud and impersonation and sentenced to an effective 42 months in prison, with part of the sentence suspended on condition of restitution.
Another case is that of Admire Munyeki, a former nurse who posed as a medical doctor and was convicted of performing four unauthorised surgeries while impersonating a qualified physician at Gweru Provincial Hospital.
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