POLICE in Harare have arrested a man who was masquerading as a gynaecologist at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
Fifty-two-year-old Andrew Mapulanga appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi facing a charge of possession of articles for criminal use on Thursday last week. He was remanded in custody to today for bail application.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi said on April 15 this year, Mapulanga went to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals hanging a stethoscope on his neck and moved up and down the corridors at the hospital. A security officer, Julia Shambare suspected him to be a bogus doctor because of his suspicious movements.
Shambare alerted her colleague Alexander Munera who apprehended Mapulanga and took him to ZRP Parirenyatwa Post where he was searched and was found in possession of a stethoscope, a business card indicating that he is a gynaecologist and a photocopy of Charity Mungofa’s Ordinary Level certificate.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, a Harare man appeared before Mangosi for impersonating a policeman.
Felix Tagonera (34) was remanded out of custody on US$100 bail and was advised to return to court on May 13 for provision of trial date.
Chonzi told the court that on April 16, 2024, policemen on patrol met Tagonera at the corner of Chinhoyi Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue who introduced himself as a police officer stationed Harare Central Police Station attached to the police intelligence section.
The policemen, however, doubted Tagonera’s claim, and after interviewing him they established that he was not a member of the police force.
Tagonera was then arrested.