Six hospital workers in court for stealing drugs

Yeukai Karengezeka Court Correspondent

Six workers from Chitungwiza Central Hospital yesterday appeared in court for allegedly stealing drugs worth US$5 020.

Pharmacy technician Samuel Mamhinga (36), general hands Panashe Nyandoro (19), Tinei Mutata (30) and Grace Mundenda(26) and security guards Tafadzwa Manyoka (34) and Blessing Mamire (34) appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Barbra Mateko.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft and the trial has been adjourned to December 5.

Leading the State outline, prosecutor Ms Monalisa Karemba told the court that on July 12, pharmacy technician Pamela Matabvu made up an order of 10 bottles of Benzathine penicillin from the drugs store.

When she went to collect the medicine from the dispensary she found seven bottles were missing.

Ms Matabvu reported to her supervisor Ms Cynthia Tapera who checked on the CCTV system and saw that the six had stolen medicines on several occasions, including the seven bottles.

Chitungwiza central Hospital internal security officer Mr Nicholas Manatsa then made a report to the police that led to the arrest of the six.

Mamhinga led detectives to the recovery of some erythromycin, omeprazol, nifedipine, and amlodipe worth US$100.