Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone, a 29-year-old fake medical doctor, has been remanded in custody after appearing before a Bulawayo magistrate on Thursday.
Vanhuvaone, also known as Prosper Mpofu, faces charges of contravening the Health Professions Act and two counts of fraud. He allegedly prescribed Lacto, a fermented fresh milk product, for a heart ailment and duped a nurse aid student out of US$1,600 by promising to secure her attachment at Mpilo Hospital.
Before his arrest, Vanhuvaone had convinced some hospital staff that he was a qualified doctor. However, his luck ran out when he wrote a suspicious prescription that included Lacto and fruits like apples and grapes for a patient with a heart condition.
Thabani Ndlovu, whose wife has a heart condition, shared his experience with the fake doctor:
“We came to the hospital looking for him, but he wasn’t around. He told us to wait, so we joined the outpatient queue. When he arrived, he took us to a room where hospital authorities arrested him.”
Vanhuvaone has a history of impersonation, having previously claimed to be a fifth-year medical student when charged with assault in 2022.
In court, Vanhuvaone begged for bail, citing his constitutional right as a Zimbabwean.
“Bail is a constitutional right for all Zimbabweans… I would like to ask the court for bail as I never ran away from the police when they confronted me,” he pleaded.
However, the State opposed bail, arguing that Vanhuvaone is a flight risk due to the severity of the offenses.
The case has been remanded to September 23 for a bail ruling.
Charges Against Vanhuvaone:
- Contravening the Health Professions Act
- Two counts of fraud
- Previous assault charge in 2022
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