29 steel trays vanish at Mutare hospital mortuary

Zim Now Writer

A total of 29 stainless steel trays were stolen at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, (formerly Mutare Provincial Hospital) as work on the construction of a new mortuary is in progress.

The estimated value of the trays is around US$10 000, putting the cumulative value of the stolen goods at US$290 000.

Public Relations Officer for the provincial referral centre said the matter had been reported to the police.

Investigations have revealed that the theft of the mortuary trays is likely to be an inside job.

The exact date of the theft remains unknown, although it was only noticed shortly before the Christmas holidays.

Sources at the hospital say they suspected that the theft involved high profile people while provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nobert Muzondo said they are yet to locate the case file.

Previously, Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital mortuary could only hold 10 bodies at a time, warranting the construction work aimed at expanding the morgue’s holding capacity.

This is not the only theft case that has taken place at the hospital recently. Just recently, 30 vials of pethidine, a controlled drug used for pain management, were stolen.

Now, it is believed the trays were sold to stainless steel pot makers.