The medical doctor, Tafadzwa Mushambi (31) and the nurse,
Mathias Makunde were alleged to have
been charging US$250 per patient in need of oxygen in what insiders at the
hospital said it is just a tip of the iceberg.
This emerged after the arrest of the two last week for
allegedly extorting US$100 from a Mutare resident, Mrs Lidia Kawadza whose
husband had been admitted at the hospital’s isolation wing.
Mushambi and Makunde are alleged to have tried to take
advantage of the fact that Mrs Kawadza had no access to the isolation ward
where her husband was admitted to verify whether he (the husband) was actually
being supplied with oxygen to extort her money.
The duo has since appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms
Audrey Muzhingi facing extortion charges as read in Section 134 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.04.
They were remanded out of custody on $5 000 bail each.
Prosecuting, Mr Chris Munyuku, said on January 15 and at Victoria Chitepo
Provincial Hospital, Mushambi and Makunde exerted illegitimate pressure on Mrs
Kawadza to part with her money so that she could get oxygen for her ailing
husband who was admitted at the hospital.
“The two accused persons connived to use an oxygen
concentrator owned by Mushambi at the isolation centre at Victoria Chitepo
Provincial Hospital for the purpose of hiring it to desperate patients without
the approval or contract from the hospital authorities. The hospital had enough
oxygen to cater for the patients,” said Mr Munyuku.
He said on January 15, Makunde through a text message using
his mobile number told the complainant that he wanted US$250 to purchase oxygen
for her husband who was admitted in the hospital’s isolation ward.
Mrs Kawadza later phoned Makunde who allegedly insisted
that her husband was supposed to pay US$250 before being admitted in hospital.
She was also told to bring the money at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital
and hand it over to Makunde.
Mr Munyuku said Mrs Kawadza later enquired from the
hospital authorities on the availability and selling of oxygen to patients and
was told that the institution had enough supplies of the commodity.
“The complainant then confirmed with the authorities from
Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital who informed her that oxygen was not in
short supply at the institution and was being supplied free of charge. The
hospital authorities alerted the police and a trap was set. The complainant
phoned Makunde who told her to wait for Mushambi at the car park. Mushambi
later came to the car park where the complainant who was in the company of
police intelligence operatives in her vehicle,” said Mr Munyuku.
Mushambi identified himself as the owner of the oxygen
concentrator machine and explained how it works.
“Makunde also came to the car park and threatened to remove the complainant’s husband from oxygen supply if she delays to pay for the hiring of the oxygen concentrator machine before driving off from the car park.
“The complainant pleaded with Mushambi saying she had only
US$100 in her possession, but Mushambi told her to call her later after raising
the required amount before driving off,” said Mr Munyuku.
After a while, Mrs Kawadza phoned Mushambi who came back
and she pleaded to pay the available US$100 since Makunde had threatened to
remove her husband from the oxygen supply.
“Mushambi agreed to be paid the balance of US$150 later and
accepted the US$100 which was trap money resulting in his arrest by the police
intelligence operatives who were with the complainant. The trap money was
recovered from Mushambi and was taken as an exhibit.
After arresting Mushambi, the police intelligence team
searched his vehicle and recovered two documents which indicated that he had
also received US$250 from Caroline Marume of Bordervale, Mutare and US$150 from
Beaulah Hambirepi of Area 16, Dangamvura for the purchase of oxygen.
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