A 34-year-old employee at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of stealing mobile phones from patients while they were in a vulnerable state. The employee, Lizuba Nkosi Ngula, took advantage of patients’ illnesses to commit the thefts, targeting individuals who were unable to defend themselves. His actions led to three counts of theft, each involving mobile phones stolen from patients in the hospital’s Post Natal ward.
However, in a move that blends punishment with rehabilitation, the court also imposed a conditional sentence, allowing Ngula to serve 315 hours of community service instead of completing his full prison term. Bulawayo Magistrate Ms. Nomagugu Maphosa suspended three months of the sentence, and the remaining nine months were suspended on the condition that Ngula perform community service at Cowdray Park Primary School, providing a chance for him to give back to the community he betrayed.
The thefts occurred in November 2024 while Ngula was working as an HIV testing counselor at Mpilo Central Hospital, which is attached to the Global Fund program. According to the prosecutor, Ms. Hazel Siphiwe Sithole, Ngula stole phones from three different patients over several days.
The first incident took place on November 6, 2024, when Ngula stole a Samsung Galaxy A05 phone from Lucy Machingauta, a 36-year-old patient in the hospital’s Post Natal ward. Machingauta had been admitted to the ward around 10:00 AM, and Ngula took her phone without permission. The total value of the stolen phone was estimated at US$100. However, Machingauta soon realized the phone was missing and reported the theft to the police. This led to Ngula’s arrest, and the phone was recovered.
Later that same day, Ngula committed a second theft, taking an Itel P36 phone from another patient, Martha Luwe, also in the Post Natal ward. Luwe had no idea that her phone was being taken, and Ngula once again acted with the knowledge that he was stealing from a vulnerable patient.
The third theft occurred just two days later, on November 8, 2024, when Ngula stole an O King phone from 19-year-old Shamiso Ndlovu, who was also admitted to the Post Natal ward. Ndlovu, who resides at Ndlovu Homestead in Lower Gweru, reported the theft after noticing her phone was missing. This report triggered an investigation that ultimately led to Ngula’s arrest and conviction.
In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Maphosa noted the seriousness of Ngula’s actions, especially given that he had taken advantage of the patients’ weakened state to steal from them. The court emphasized that Ngula’s position as a health worker made his crime all the more egregious, as he was trusted to care for vulnerable individuals during a difficult time.
However, the court also recognized that Ngula had shown remorse for his actions and had no previous criminal record. As a result, Maphosa decided to suspend part of the sentence, allowing Ngula to serve 315 hours of community service at Cowdray Park Primary School. This decision reflects the court’s approach to rehabilitation, offering Ngula an opportunity to make amends for his actions by contributing to the community rather than serving the full prison term.
The suspension of part of the sentence indicates a belief in second chances, particularly for first-time offenders who show genuine remorse and a willingness to change. While the community service will hold Ngula accountable for his thefts, it also offers him a chance to reintegrate into society and demonstrate his commitment to making things right.
Ngula’s thefts have raised concerns about security at Mpilo Central Hospital, a major healthcare facility in Bulawayo. The incident has underscored the vulnerability of patients, particularly in wards where they may be unconscious or too ill to notice their belongings being stolen. The hospital will likely review its security protocols to prevent future incidents and ensure that patients can receive care without fear of theft.
The case has also prompted discussions about the ethics of healthcare workers and the importance of maintaining trust between medical professionals and patients. For patients who come to the hospital seeking care and comfort, knowing that someone in a position of authority exploited their vulnerability for personal gain is a profound betrayal.
The conviction and sentencing of Lizuba Nkosi Ngula serve as both a warning and a chance for redemption. His actions, which preyed on the vulnerability of patients, resulted in serious consequences. However, the conditional sentence provides an opportunity for rehabilitation and restitution, acknowledging the potential for personal growth and accountability.
As Ngula serves his community service and reflects on the impact of his crimes, it is hoped that his case will inspire other healthcare workers to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity, ensuring that the trust placed in them by patients is never violated again.
In other news – Baby girl dies after falling into bucket of hot water in Harare
A Harare family is in mourning following the heartbreaking death of their six-month-old baby, who tragically fell into a bucket of hot water on November 15, 2024. The incident, which occurred at a home in Kambuzuma 5, has left the family devastated and shocked, with neighbors describing the scene as “devastating.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the tragedy in a statement released on social media. According to the police, the baby girl was rushed to a local hospital after the accident but sadly died upon admission. Read More
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