A Chitungwiza man has been handed a significant prison term after he faked a disability to steal from healthcare workers. Benjamin Mutambanengwe, aged 38, was sentenced to eight years behind bars after being found guilty on eight counts of unlawful entry under aggravating circumstances.
The Harare magistrate, Mr Blessing Mafukidze, presided over the full trial, which laid bare a calculated campaign of deception targeting those in the healthcare sector.
The court heard how Mutambanengwe’s elaborate ruse involved using crutches to feign a physical disability, allowing him to gain the trust and access needed to enter restricted areas of busy medical facilities. His crime spree, which unfolded over several months, saw him pilfer high-value electronics from the very doctors and nurses dedicated to helping the sick and infirm.
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Chitungwiza Man Fakes Disability To Steal From Healthcare Workers
The long arm of the law began to close in on the perpetrator after a specific incident at Health Point Hospital in Harare. The court was told that on September 9 of the previous year, a doctor had securely locked his room before stepping out to attend to an emergency. Seizing the opportunity, Mutambanengwe arrived on the scene. Posing as a vulnerable patient in need of assistance, he infiltrated the doctor’s private quarters and made off with a Pro Book laptop.
The investigating officer detailed the subsequent discovery, stating,
“The complainant returned later and noticed that his laptop was missing. He then reviewed the CCTV footage and observed the convict carrying his laptop.”
This digital evidence provided the first significant break in the case, capturing the convict in the act and confirming the method behind his thefts.
A Pattern of Preying on Compassion
The modus operandi was consistent and ruthless. Just weeks after the first incident, on September 25, the convict turned his attention to the Avondale Clinic. Once again, he used his feigned disability as a passport through the doors. The prosecution, representing the clinic through health worker Mercy Marange, proved that Mutambanengwe entered during visiting hours, blending in with genuine visitors before striking.
“He went straight to the reception room, where he stole a Samsung A13 cellphone from the table and went away,” the prosecutor told the court.
The theft was discovered only after the employee returned to her station to find her personal property gone. This was not an isolated event; another similar theft occurred at Southland Regional on October 24, 2024, where a Samsung Nokia G21 belonging to Vongai Makotore was taken from an office in an identical manner.
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Justice Served as Indications Are Made
The net finally tightened around Benjamin Mutambanengwe, leading to his arrest by Zimbabwean police. In a significant development on October 12 this year, the convict voluntarily made indications at the various scenes, demonstrating to authorities precisely how he carried out the offences. This confession and demonstration of his methods, combined with the overwhelming evidence from multiple locations, sealed his fate.
The State prosecutor emphasised the calculated nature of the crimes, noting, “The convict entered the premise pretending as a visitor and went to the reception where he stole the cell phone that was on the table and went away.” With his eight-year sentence, the Harare magistrates’ court has sent a strong message that such predatory behaviour towards essential health workers will be met with the full force of the law.
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The post Chitungwiza Man Fakes Disability To Steal From Healthcare Workers appeared first on iHarare News.
