adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A VICTORIA Falls District Hospital pharmacy technician has been arrested for allegedly stealing ARVs and other drugs worth more than $4,000 from the institution.Tafadzwa Mudhliwevhu, 33, of Mkhosana suburb was suspended by the hospital last month after a spot check in the pharmacy established that some drugs were missing, resulting in an internal audit that unearthed the alleged theft.
Mudhliwevhu, who transferred to the hospital last year from Inyathi Mission Hospital, pleaded not guilty to the theft charge when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani on Wednesday.
He was remanded out of custody to June 6 on $200 bail.
As part of his bail conditions, Mudhliwevhu was ordered to reside at his given address and not to interfere with witnesses.
Prosecuting, David Tivakudze told the court that the pharmacy technician stole from the hospital between December last year and February this year.
“Between December 16, last year and February this year, the accused hatched a plan to steal some drugs from the hospital’s pharmacy purporting to be taking them to the dispensary,” said the prosecutor.
Drugs which Mudhliwevhu allegedly stole included paracetamol syrup, Ritonavir tablets, and family planning pills.
The pharmacy technician was exposed when the hospital got a tip off that some drugs were being stolen and sold in Bulawayo.
Hospital authorities conducted an impromptu check in the pharmacy and discovered that some drugs were missing yet records indicated that they should be available.
This led to an internal audit which unearthed the theft, the court was told.
The total value of the stolen assortment of drugs was $4,078.
Online Reporter