Fractured-Leg Patient Caught Stealing Hospital Pipes

A 40-year-old patient with a fractured leg at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital was arrested for stealing copper pipes and vandalising examination lights, highlighting growing scrap-metal theft and security challenges in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals (image source)

A 40-year-old man admitted with a fractured leg at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital was arrested on 05 October after being found vandalising examination lights and stealing internal copper components, police said. Taona Dzimbo was discovered under police guard at the hospital as officers recovered dozens of pipe segments from his bedside locker.

Police confirmed the arrest in a statement from national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, noting that hospital staff had grown suspicious after noticing flickering lights and missing fittings in one ward. A subsequent search of Dzimbo’s locker yielded 45 pieces of copper pipe, each approximately 20 centimetres long, and an aluminium pipe, all believed to have been stripped from hospital fixtures.

Nyathi emphasised that while Dzimbo remains under guard pending medical discharge, he will face charges of theft and vandalism. “The suspect was caught damaging hospital examination lights and removing internal copper components,” the statement reads. If convicted, he could face fines or imprisonment under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Hospital staff described the episode as unprecedented. A senior ward nurse, speaking on condition of anonymity, said workers first noticed lights dimming during routine evening checks. “When we investigated, parts of the lamp housings were loose,” the nurse recalled. “It was shocking to learn a patient on crutches had been stripping the fittings over days.”

The incident highlights a wider challenge of scrap-metal theft in Zimbabwe’s public institutions. Hospitals, schools, and utility providers have all reported rising losses to thieves targeting copper wiring and plumbing. Security experts warn that such thefts not only drive up maintenance costs but also endanger lives when critical equipment is compromised.

Scrap-metal theft surged across Zimbabwe following economic contractions and currency instability, with copper fetching high prices on informal markets. In 2024, the Zimbabwe Republic Police recorded a 28% increase in thefts of metal goods, prompting the government to tighten regulations on scrap dealers and introduce mandatory registration for metal traders. Despite these measures, incidents persist, driven by widespread poverty and gaps in security at public facilities.

Local residents in Mbare have expressed concern over hospital safety. Community leader Esther Mandaza said the theft at a major referral centre undermines public trust. “Patients come here to heal, not to fear for their safety,” she said. Meanwhile, human-rights lawyers emphasise that Dzimbo’s medical condition must be respected, even as he faces prosecution.

Police in Mbare have handed the case file to the Harare magistrate’s court, which is expected to set a plea date once Dzimbo is discharged. Hospital management has launched an internal review of security protocols and is reviewing CCTV coverage in vulnerable wards.