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Gibson Mhaka
AS the drama surrounding Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone (29) also known as Prosper Mpofu, who recently appeared in court and is out on bail for allegedly masquerading as a medical doctor at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo continued following his arrest again on Monday at the same institution, B-Metro dug into its archives and revealed that the man is no stranger to controversy.
Vanhuvaone was granted US$100 bail by a Bulawayo magistrate last week after the State found no compelling reasons to deny him bail.
He was ordered to reside at his given address, report to the police once a week, and not interfere with State witnesses pending a court session on October 7.
However, he was spotted at Mpilo Central Hospital again on Monday, leading to his arrest, prompting residents to call for an urgent investigation into operations at the institution.
While the motive behind his latest visit to Mpilo Hospital remains unclear, B-Metro has discovered that it was not the first time Vanhuvaone, whose name literally means “people should see,” found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
In November 2022, Vanhuvaone, who had suspected his pregnant girlfriend of cheating for some time, went on a rampage when his suspicions were confirmed in the most dramatic way.
He ruthlessly attacked two men he allegedly busted having sex with his lover Abercy “Spongy” Chishapira at a city lodge and flat respectively.
He beat up Erick Gumbo from Nkulumane suburb after he caught him with his girlfriend at a city lodge. In a fit of anger, he is also alleged to have threatened to chop off Gumbo’s manhood. Vanhuvaone also brutally bashed Butholenkosi Gula Ndebele with fists and open hands on the face, chest, neck and back after he also caught him with his lover at his (Ndebele) flat in the city.
He went on to hit him with a guitar resulting in it breaking into pieces before smashing his 55-inch Samsung TV’s screen.
After a series of attacks, he was arrested and appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Musaiwona Shotgame, facing two counts of assault and one count of malicious damage to property.
He pleaded not guilty to all three counts but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
Determined to avoid a custodial sentence, he allegedly devised a plan that he believed would sway the magistrate in his favour. During mitigation, he presented himself as a fifth-year medical student at Mpilo Central Hospital.
He claimed to have dedicated his life to healing people, working tirelessly in the hospital. He allegedly painted a picture of a selfless individual making a significant contribution to society.
The magistrate, apparently impressed by Vanhuvaone’s “fake” credentials, was inclined to show leniency. A custodial sentence, the magistrate reasoned, would deprive society of a valuable asset.
The magistrate then passed a non-custodial sentence so that Vanhuvaone could continue to save people’s lives.
On the first two counts of assault, Vanhuvaone was fined $ 70,000 (or seven months in jail). Ten months’ imprisonment was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
On count three of malicious damage to property, he was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment of which five months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining five months were suspended on condition that he compensates Ndebele US$1 100 being the value of his property he destroyed when he was beating him up.
In passing the sentence the magistrate took into consideration the fact that Vanhuvaone had also “passionately” apologised to the court and the two victims and that he was also a first offender and a “medical student in his fifth year at Mpilo Hospital”.
“He is single and engaged to an expecting girlfriend who is in this case at the epicentre of the commission of these crimes. She lured the two complainants for the Biblical fruits of wisdom and was bedded by the complainants.
“The accused was provoked by the conduct of the victims to be seduced by her. He is a first-time offender and is not employed but a student at Mpilo in his fifth year.
“Accused, however, took the law into his own hands and invoked violence to resolve a dispute, instead of dialogue. He used severe force to strike the victims with serious injuries.
“He was supposed to resolve his disputes with his girlfriend other than with the complainants. The court will impose a term of imprisonment suspending it on condition of good behaviour and restitution,” ruled the magistrate.
In his defence outline, Vanhuvaone had stated that Gumbo throttled him and he retaliated. He said he then overpowered him, adding that Gumbo was lying against him as punishment for busting him with his “wife”.
Turning to Ndebele, Vanhuvaone said when he found him with his “wife” he grabbed him and they wrestled and in the process, Ndebele fell on the TV.
He said he slapped him with open hands and when Ndebele attempted to assault him using a guitar he dodged it and it fell and damaged the picture frame. He denied damaging the items as alleged.
Online Reporter