A 40-year-old man accused of posing as a medical doctor has been charged with murder after a 51-year-old woman died during an alleged illegal procedure to remo...
A 40-year-old man accused of posing as a medical doctor has been charged with murder after a 51-year-old woman died during an alleged illegal procedure to remove a goitre in Seke, Chitungwiza.
Douglas Mutoredzanwa appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Evelyn Mashavakure on Tuesday alongside his alleged accomplice, Perpetua Mataba. The two were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to October 8.
The deceased, Margaret Gwamura, was from Njenje Village under Chief Mangwende in Murehwa.
According to the State, Mutoredzanwa allegedly claimed to be a medical doctor and invited Gwamura to Mataba’s homestead in Unit D, Seke, on September 24 for the procedure.
The court heard that Mutoredzanwa allegedly asked Mataba to provide buckets of water before instructing Gwamura to sit under a shed.
He allegedly administered two injections to Gwamura’s neck before using a surgical razor blade to remove the goitre.
The State alleges that the procedure caused Gwamura to bleed heavily. Mutoredzanwa allegedly tried to control the bleeding with cotton wool and a bandage before putting her on a drip.
However, the bleeding allegedly continued and Mutoredzanwa left the property while Gwamura was still in a serious condition.
Relatives who were present reportedly noticed that he had left and tried several times to contact him by phone. When they could not reach him, they and Mataba alerted the police.
Police officers who attended the scene found Gwamura with no signs of life. Police later recovered surgical instruments, blood-stained bandages and used medication from the scene.
Police also established that Mutoredzanwa allegedly did not have a practising certificate at the time of his arrest. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged members of the public to verify the credentials of people offering medical services and to seek treatment from registered medical practitioners and recognised health institutions.
The case is now before the courts, and the allegations against Mutoredzanwa and Mataba have not yet been tested in court.
