Nurse demands bribes from pregnant women

Zim Now Writer

A nurse based at Chiredzi General Hospital has appeared before regional magistrate Judith Zuyu on charges of abuse of office after she allegedly demanded money from pregnant women so that they could be attended to by a doctor.

Arnold Hara, 45, of A264 Chishamiso Village in Chiredzi was remanded out of custody to September 17 this year because witnesses failed to turn up at the court on Tuesday.

Hara allegedly demanded US$200 from Febbie Masasi who was admitted to the hospital and had to deliver through Caesarean section.

He allegedly told her that the doctor requested the money.

He allegedly also demanded US$60 from Prisca Masunda for the doctor to help her sister give birth.

Prosecuting, Noel Muranda told the court that both incidents happened on January 28, 2023, at the hospital.

In the first incident, Hara went to Masasi around 6pm and told her that the doctor who wanted to perform the Caesarean operation on her needed US$200.

Masasi then reportedly called her father-in-law who brought US$60, which he handed over to Hara as part of the payment.

The second incident happened after an hour at 7pm when Hara approached Prisca Masunda, whose sister, Jeniffer, was also admitted to the hospital’s maternity wing and demanded US$57.50.

He said US$45 was for a maternity card and US$12.50 was for the child’s wrapper, cotton wool and methylated spirit, of which Prisca paid US$10.

Investigations on Hara started after a complaint was raised with the hospital’s matron, Joshua Madzivire.

Hara reportedly paid back the money he had taken from the two patients.