Private hospital holds granny (75) hostage

Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A MUTARE-BASED private hospital, Exclusive Medcare Hospital, has come under fire after allegedly detaining a 75-year-old grandmother, Mbuya Marita Manyore, for two weeks over unpaid medical bills.
The hospital is accused of refusing to discharge the Buhera septuagenarian unless her family settled an outstanding balance of US$1 070 in full.
Despite recovering just four days after admission on February 10, 2026, she remained confined until last week, when the Mutare High Court ordered her release.
Her son, Mr Witness Mavambare, represented by Ms Peggy Tavazadza and Mr Tatenda Sigauke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, filed an urgent habeas corpus ad subjiciendum application last Friday.
He argued that the hospital was unlawfully holding his mother against her will, in violation of her constitutional rights.
Although the family offered to pay the bill in two instalments over two months, the hospital allegedly rejected the proposal and added further charges, inflating the debt to US$2 200.
The move sparked outrage, raising concerns about patient rights and possible exploitation.
In his ruling, Mutare High Court judge, Justice Sijabuliso Siziba ordered Exclusive Medcare Hospital to immediately cease the illegal detention and grant Mbuya Manyore access to her relatives.
The hospital neither opposed the application nor attended the hearing.
Mr Mavambare stated that his mother had requested discharge on February 14, preferring to be attended by general practitioners after recovering from her ailment.
In his application, Mr Mavambare stated that his mother was admitted to Exclusive Medcare Hospital on February 10, for specialist treatment of an undisclosed ailment.
By February 14, she had recovered and requested to be discharged.
Her bill was standing at US$1 070.
“The applicant (Mbuya Manyore) has not been feeling well for some time. On February 9, we took her to Mutare for further treatment. A specialist physician advised that my mother’s condition required admission, and recommended medical institutions with the facilities required given her condition. We opted for Exclusive Medcare Hospital after being advised of the daily charges.
On February 11, we were advised that our mother required supplemental oxygen which required additional charges. On February 14, our mother was now feeling better and no longer needed supplementary oxygen,” he said.
Mr Mavambare said they were told that the bill was now US$1 070, and they advised the physician that the bill was out of their reach.
This was the beginning of Mbuya Manyore’s ordeal, as the hospital allegedly refused to release her, demanding full payment, yet he had US$200 cash, and offered to pay the balance within two months.
“I advised them that I had US$200 in person at that time, which I could pay, and that I would settle the bill in two monthly instalments of US$500, and they refused. They insisted that I pay the whole amount before they could release her. I managed to raise US$500 with the intention of making part payment towards the debt. They advised me that they only wanted full payment. The bill had actually gone up to US$1 440. I was left stranded, and was advised to approach Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and seek legal advice. I was advised to pay the amount of US$500 that I had into the respondent’s bank account.
“On February 26, we met the director of the respondent, one Ms M Makuwaza, who advised that she would not release the applicant until the amount was paid in full. I advised her that I had transferred US$500 to the hospital’s account and showed her proof of payment, but she indicated that the bill was now US$2 200. I tried to negotiate and sign an acknowledgement of debt, but my efforts were futile,” he said.
Mr Mavambire said the detention of their mother caused stress to the family and their mother as each time they failed to have her discharged she would cry.
He said he signed the debt acknowledgement of US$1 700 to have her mother released, and he will only pay US$1 070 for the days her mother stayed there with his consent.
“I was so pained by the hospital’s action. I could not sleep. My mother was aware that she was being held hostage by the hospital as I was informing her of the developments. Each time I arrived and left the hospital, she would cry. I ended up deciding not to visit her because I did not want to make her cry. This is when I decided to engage the lawyers for help.
“On Friday, my lawyers made an application to the High Court and the hospital was served. This is when they started treating the matter seriously. They called advising me to come and collect my mother, and sign an acknowledgement of debt. The balance is US$1 710, which I just signed so that they release my mother,” said Mr Mavambire.
When approached for a comment, Ms Makuwaza said she was in a meeting and promised to call back.
“May I come back to you? I am in a meeting. I will call you back,” she said, but follow-ups drew blanks as the hospital phones were no longer being picked.
Another hospital official, Mrs Khulekhani Sibanda, promised to facilitate the interview with Mrs Makuwaza before saying she (Mrs Sibanda) had gone out of office.