A totally bogus doctor, a young man without a medical qualification to his name, worked in the Parirenyatwa casualty unit for seven months until Tuesday this week, accepted by staff, security and patients simply because he wore a white coat and carried a stethoscope.
Admire Chisi (25) was finally rumbled when the head of casualty took an interest, found the young man was remarkably ignorant, investigated and called the police, who took him away on charges of impersonating a public officer although other charges may be laid. It is unlikely that he was paid, but that is not yet certain
But what concerns a lot of people is how human resources, security and hospital administration generally could admit him into the building, let alone allow him to deal with patients, for so long.
Chisi took advantage of the doctors’ strike and the general staff shortage in the health sector to penetrate the hospital system in April this year, although that was when there was a tight lockdown and security had been supposedly tightened. But the increased pressure on senior medical staff might explain why it took so long to figure out he was a very bad doctor if qualified.
Parirenyatwa Hospital yesterday issued a statement confirming Chisi was a fake doctor and that they had handed him over to the police.
“On October 20 2020, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals discovered that the Accident and Emergency Department had been infiltrated by a fake medical doctor who posed as a physician registrar.
“The matter was discovered after our vigilant casualty staff doubted his medical proficiency and made some inquiries. The suspect has been handed over to the police who are now handling the matter,” reads the statement.
However, labour lawyers, medical experts and other commentators questioned how the hospital could enjoy the services of a bogus doctor for seven months.
They blasted the leadership for failing to properly supervise staff while the security section of the institution was criticised for laxity.
Top labour lawyer Mr Caleb Mucheche said the hospital management exhibited negligence and dereliction of duty.
“Failure to detect such a bogus doctor for that long smacks of gross negligence or dereliction of duty by hospital management, human resources and security departments.
“The bogus doctor committed a serious criminal offence by falsely posing as a doctor and endangering human lives at such a big and busy hospital especially now during coronavirus.
“There is need for an overhaul of management, human resources department and security departments at that hospital to prevent future incidents like this,” he said.
Zimbabwe Medical and Dental Practitioners Council president Dr Francis Chirowa said it was surprising that a hospital with sectional heads could take that long to detect the fraud.
“One cannot just walk into the hospital and assume duties of a medical practitioner without producing a practicing certificate. It is surprising considering there is a head of Casualty who should be able to know all the doctors under him and ensure there is a duty roster for all staff,” he said.
Dr Chirowa said Chisi’s case was the third such fraud since independence and measures must be put in place to protect patients.
“In the 1980s we had a similar case at Harare Hospital (now Sally Mugabe Hospital) where someone masqueraded as a doctor. We also had another case of another man who illegally practiced at Mpilo, United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mberengwa. That one ended up causing deaths.
“The Parirenyatwa case is now the third one and there is need for management at hospitals to be more vigilant to save our patients from fake doctors,” he said.
A security expert Mr Brian Kashangura of Vandrift Security Services said the case exposes the laxity of the security at the hospital.
“It clearly shows there are no systems to protect patients at the hospital. How can a stranger work for that long without being questioned? The chief executive officer should do the honourable thing and step down,” he said.
Harare lawyer Mr Wellington Pasipanodya of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners said the health profession must introduce more stringent security measures to detect bogus doctors in time.
“This type of mischief is common to many professions in Zimbabwe. What needs to be done is to introduce an electronic tag system to identify each hospital staff member using identity tags. Further, all doctors must be issued with practicing certificates which can be produced upon demand by the general public.
“Lastly, ordinary accountability systems like staff meetings, duty rosters and random spot checks of medical personnel against the database of the Health Professions Authority can be done to prevent a repeat of this act,” he said.
The Herald established that police searched Chisi and recovered a stethoscope, medical needles, medical hair caps and other medical tools.
The Herald visited Chisi’s house in Ruwa where neighbours were convinced he was a genuine doctor working at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
A neighbour, Mr Brian Chivona, said: “Admire stays here and we know him as a medical doctor. He goes to Parirenyatwa Hospital daily. He stays here with a friend and his sister joined him recently,” said the neighbour.
VPN services protect user privacy and secure online activity. Demand is growing due to increased awareness of data security.
rnrnKeywords such as “best VPN services” have strong CPC. Content should explain benefits and features.
rnrnEducational content improves trust and SEO performance. This niche attracts global audiences.
rnDebt consolidation can sound like an easy solution: combine several debts into one payment and possibly lower the interest rate. For some borrowers, that can be helpful. For others, it only moves debt around while the balance continues to grow. The difference depends on the loan terms, fees, spending habits, income stability, and payoff discipline.
A debt consolidation loan is usually a personal loan used to pay off credit cards, medical bills, store cards, payday loans, or other unsecured debts. After the old balances are paid, the borrower makes one fixed monthly payment to the new lender. The main appeal is simplicity. One due date, one payment, and one payoff timeline can make budgeting easier.
The biggest potential benefit is a lower interest rate. Credit cards often charge variable rates that can rise over time. A fixed-rate personal loan may offer a predictable payment and a defined end date. If the new loan has a lower rate and you avoid new debt, consolidation can reduce interest costs and speed up payoff.
However, the monthly payment is not the only number to review. A longer repayment term can lower the monthly payment while increasing total interest paid. For example, stretching debt over several years may feel easier each month but cost more overall. Always compare total repayment, not just the payment amount.
Fees matter too. Some lenders charge origination fees, late fees, returned payment fees, or prepayment penalties. An origination fee may be deducted from the loan amount, which means you receive less money than expected. Compare the annual percentage rate because it includes certain finance charges and gives a better apples-to-apples view than the interest rate alone.
Credit score impact can go in different directions. Applying for a loan may create a hard inquiry. Opening a new account can reduce the average age of credit. However, paying down credit card balances may improve credit utilization, which can help some borrowers over time. The biggest factor remains making on-time payments.
The main risk is running up the old credit cards again. If you consolidate balances and continue using cards without a budget, you may end up with the consolidation loan plus new credit card debt. Before taking a loan, create a spending plan and decide whether to close cards, lower limits, or keep cards open but unused.
Not everyone qualifies for a low rate. Lenders may review credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio, employment history, payment history, and existing balances. Borrowers with stronger credit often receive better terms. If the offers are high-interest, consolidation may not save money.
Alternatives include a balance transfer credit card, nonprofit credit counseling, a debt management plan, negotiating with creditors, budgeting changes, side income, or a structured debt snowball or debt avalanche method. Balance transfers may offer promotional rates, but fees and deadlines matter. Missing the promotional payoff date can lead to higher interest.
Before choosing any offer, write down every debt: creditor, balance, interest rate, minimum payment, due date, and payoff priority. Then compare three scenarios: keeping current payments, using a consolidation loan, and using another strategy. A simple spreadsheet can reveal whether consolidation truly saves money.
Ask lenders these questions: Is the rate fixed or variable? What is the APR? Are there origination fees? Is there a prepayment penalty? What is the total repayment amount? When are funds sent? Can the lender pay creditors directly? What happens if I miss a payment? Are there hardship options?
Debt consolidation works best when it is part of a larger debt payoff plan. The loan should create a clear path out of debt, not a temporary break from the pressure. If the payment fits the budget, the rate is lower, and the borrower stops adding new balances, consolidation can be a useful tool. If not, it may delay the real problem.
