Fake Doctor Arrested at Parirenyatwa Hospital
Blessing Nyanzira (24) was apprehended at Parirenyatwa Hospital yesterday as he attempted to pass through a staff security checkpoint during the lunch hour break. Nyanzira’s audacious attempts to deceive the hospital staff by presenting counterfeit identification cards and assuming false identities have shed light on a growing issue of impersonation within the medical community.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded when Claude Nyangani, a Loss Control Supervisor at Parirenyatwa Hospital, encountered Nyanzira during a routine patrol. Nyanzira was attired in a scrub jacket labeled with the name “Blessing Nyanzira” and had a stethoscope draped around his neck, immediately arousing Nyangani’s suspicion.
Questioned about his identity, Nyanzira produced two identity cards, each bearing a different name from the one displayed on his jacket. Initially claiming to be a medical doctor en route to a meeting with Dr. Ndurukwa from the Zimbabwe National Army in Harare’s Central Business District, Nyanzira’s fabricated story swiftly unraveled. Hospital authorities and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Services at the University of Zimbabwe confirmed that Nyanzira was not associated with either institution.
This incident follows two other recent cases at Parirenyatwa Hospital involving individuals charged with theft and impersonation. Douglas Mutoredzanwa was arrested after being caught holding an X-ray upside down, while Felix Tagonera masqueraded as a gynecologist within the same medical facility.
Nyanzira appeared in court on Saturday, and the state vehemently opposed his release on bail, citing substantial evidence against him and the possibility of his absconding. The court is expected to consider the bail request today.
The emergence of these impersonation cases has raised concerns about the effectiveness of security measures and the need for enhanced vigilance within medical institutions. Authorities are now focusing on implementing stricter verification procedures to prevent further incidents of this nature. The medical community, along with law enforcement agencies, is urging healthcare facilities to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of patients.
