Mpilo Fake Doctor Caged Five and Half Years
A Bulawayo man who spent two years masquerading as a medical doctor, defrauding patients and offering bogus nursing placements at Mpilo Central Hospital, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
Prosper Vanhuvaone, whose brazen actions stunned the local medical community, was convicted on three counts of fraud and one of impersonation by Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Eva Matura following a full trial.
Two years of the sentence were suspended on the condition that he restitutes US$8,165 to his victims. He will serve an effective three-and-a-half years behind bars.
The suspect robbed the complainant of US$10 and a cellphone in Dangamvura.
The courtroom was tense and emotional, with some of the victims — who had either received bogus medical treatment or were misled about job placements — sitting in silence. In mitigation, Vanhuvaone pleaded for leniency, claiming he had dropped out of medical school due to peer pressure and had since attempted to lead a productive life.
“I own a car, have US$1,800 in savings, a house in North End, and run a private company. I am a family man and provide for my children,” he told the court, appealing for a non-custodial sentence.
However, in aggravation, the prosecution — led by Mr Samuel Mpofu — argued strongly for a custodial sentence, citing the serious threat Vanhuvaone posed to public safety.
“This case is of national interest. In a previous conviction, he used the name Prosper Mpofu, and now he goes by Prosper Vanhuvaone. Granting him a non-custodial sentence would endanger public lives. Moreover, his actions have eroded public confidence in the healthcare system at Mpilo Central Hospital,” Mr Mpofu said.
He emphasised that Vanhuvaone’s conduct had placed numerous lives at risk.
Court documents revealed that Vanhuvaone had operated fraudulently for approximately two years, establishing an office within Mpilo Central Hospital and even attending to patients at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
His scheme was only uncovered upon his arrest at Mpilo Central Hospital, which prompted internal investigations that exposed the full extent of the deception.
Mpilo Central Hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr Narcisius Dzvanga, expressed shock at how Vanhuvaone had managed to secure an office and operate within the institution. He said the hospital deeply regretted the incident, which had endangered patients and tarnished the institution’s reputation. Dr Dzvanga said that the hospital is currently exploring measures to prevent similar incidents in future and urged members of the public to remain vigilant.
Vanhuvaone’s arrest has sparked a national debate about vulnerabilities in the healthcare system and the urgent need for more rigorous vetting of individuals accessing medical facilities under false pretences. Chronicle
