Doctor Acquitted in Fraud Case After Enduring 4 Years of ZACC Torment On False Accusations
In a stunning courtroom victory, Dr. Michael Mandaza, owner of Pacific 24 Hours Hospital in Mabvuku, has been acquitted on all charges of fraud after a grueling four-year legal battle that left him facing the prospect of imprisonment, professional deregistration, and public humiliation. The ruling by Justice Hungwe exposes what Mandaza describes as a “fabricated nightmare” orchestrated by enemies, highlighting flaws in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC) handling of the case and raising questions about selective prosecution in the country.
The ordeal began in July 2021 when ZACC dramatically arrested Dr. Mandaza, accusing him of conducting fake laboratory tests on patients and charging them US$60 per test. Investigators claimed he lacked a proper laboratory and instead generated fictitious reports using laptops and a date stamp from a non-existent entity called Sampling Diagnostics Laboratory. Raids on his hospital and residence in Zimre Park led to the seizure of medical records, digital devices, and cash amounting to US$15,000 and R2,000. At the time, critics questioned why ZACC, which has been accused of ignoring multimillion-dollar corruption scandals like that involving former ZIFA boss Henrietta Rushwaya, intervened in what seemed like a matter for the Zimbabwe Medical Council amid the COVID-19 emergency.
Mandaza faced two counts of fraud related to renal function tests on patients Sandra Bed in May 2020 and Simbisai Chisuwe in February 2021. Prosecutors alleged he misled the patients by promising to send blood samples to a registered lab, only to produce computer-generated fake results on forged letterheads. Over 40,000 patient files were confiscated during the investigation, but only three were flagged as suspicious—a detail that Mandaza’s defense used to argue the case was overblown and targeted.
For the past four years, Dr. Mandaza has lived under a dark cloud, describing the period as a “thunderstorm” that shattered his life. “I’ve waited in agony, not knowing if I’d lose everything—my practice, my freedom, my reputation—all based on lies from disgruntled former employees who tipped off ZACC,” Mandaza said in a statement following the acquittal. The emotional toll was immense: constant court appearances, the seizure of his files for months, and the fear of tampering while they were in ZACC’s custody. He endured public scrutiny, professional isolation, and the heartbreak of seeing his hospital’s operations disrupted, all while maintaining his innocence and claiming the accusations stemmed from personal vendettas, including false alarms to ZACC and ZIMRA.
During the trial, witness testimonies painted a picture of shaky evidence. Patient Sandra Bed, one of the alleged victims, testified that Dr. Mandaza had been her trusted doctor for years and performed professionally. She revealed ZACC summoned her but never showed her the supposedly fake results. Representatives from the Health Professions Authority (HPA) confirmed the lab in question was unregistered but admitted under cross-examination that they hadn’t witnessed the recovery of the incriminating stamp and couldn’t verify its origins.
ZACC’s principal investigator, Shingai Mudede, described receiving a tip-off and seizing files, laptops, and the stamp, insisting forensic analysis linked them to fake documents. However, crucially, these documents were never presented in court, leaving a glaring gap in the prosecution’s case. Hospital employee Grace Mbaimbai further undermined the claims by noting the stamp’s storage cabinet was a public space accessible to all staff, not just Mandaza.
In his ruling, Justice Hungwe delivered a scathing assessment of the State’s evidence, stating it failed to prove Mandaza’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. “The State bears the onus to link the accused to the offense, including actus reus and mens rea,” Hungwe said. “Here, no evidence attributed the stamp solely to the accused, nor excluded tampering by others. The documents weren’t tendered, and the chain of custody was questionable.” He praised Mandaza’s defense as “probable” and unrefuted, acquitting him on both counts.
The acquittal has sparked outrage and calls for accountability at ZACC, with legal experts questioning why such a low-stakes case—potentially better suited for professional regulatory bodies—was pursued so aggressively while larger corruption probes languish. For Dr. Mandaza, the victory is bittersweet after years of unwarranted suffering. “Four years stolen from my life, hanging on false accusations—it’s a sadness no one should endure,” he reflected. “But today, justice prevailed, and I can finally rebuild.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about judicial overreach and the human cost of unproven allegations in Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption efforts. Mandaza plans to resume full operations at his hospital and is considering legal action against those who initiated the probe.
