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Emily Mbewe Court Reporter
TWO employees of Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo have been arraigned for allegedly pocketing money paid by a patient for an X-ray. Titus Muvengwa, 36, of Gwabalanda suburb and Busani Mpofu, 32, of New Magwegwe pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal abuse of office when they appeared before magistrate Marylin Mutshina.

The two were remanded out of custody on $100 bail each.

Prosecuting Nkathazo Dlodlo said that on April 24 at around 12noon, Rosemary Ncube, who was ill, went to Mpilo hospital with her young sister Pretty Ncube.

Dlodlo told the court that Rosemary was referred to the X-ray department for a spinal X-ray by the doctor who examined her.

Pretty proceeded to the X-ray department where she inquired on the cost of the X –ray after leaving her sister on the first floor of the hospital.

She met Muvengwa at the reception who told her that the X-ray cost $50. “Pretty went back to her sister to find out if she had the money for the X-ray but Rosemary told her she only had $30,” said Dlodlo.

He said Pretty went back to the X-ray department reception and told Muvengwa that they only had $30.

Muvengwa, the court heard, instructed Pretty to queue for the X-ray after engaging Mpofu who is employed as an X-ray operator. Mpofu then took an X-ray for Pretty.

The court heard that after taking the X-ray, Muvengwa collected $30 and a few minutes later handed the X-ray to Rosemary. Dlodlo said Muvengwa and Mpofu converted the money to their own use.

“The matter only came to light when Vongai Mugwidi, a risk and loss control officer, asked for the receipt from the patient and she failed to produce it. This eventually led to the arrest of Muvengwa and Mpofu,” he said.