Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Faking Disability to Rob Health Workers
A 38-year-old Zimbabwean man, Benjamin Mutambanengwe, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for faking a disability to steal from healthcare workers in a series of calculated thefts.
Mutambanengwe was convicted on eight counts of unlawful entry under aggravating circumstances following a full trial before Harare magistrate Blessing Mafukidze.
According to the court, the convict’s scheme involved using crutches to feign a physical disability, earning him sympathy and unrestricted access to hospitals and clinics. Once inside, he stole valuable items such as laptops and mobile phones from medical staff attending to patients.
His deception unraveled after a key incident at Health Point Hospital in Harare on September 9 last year, when he stole a Pro Book laptop from a doctor’s office after pretending to be a patient in distress.
“The complainant returned later and noticed that his laptop was missing. He then reviewed the CCTV footage and observed the convict carrying his laptop,” the investigating officer told the court.
The CCTV footage became a turning point in the investigation, capturing Mutambanengwe in the act and revealing his method of exploiting compassion to commit theft.
His pattern continued. Just two weeks later, on September 25, he struck again, this time at Avondale Clinic. Prosecutor Mercy Marange said Mutambanengwe entered during visiting hours, pretending to be a legitimate visitor. “He went straight to the reception room, where he stole a Samsung A13 cellphone from the table and went away,” Marange told the court.
The theft was discovered when the employee returned to find her phone missing. A similar incident took place at Southland Regional on October 24, 2024, where a Samsung Nokia G21 belonging to health worker Vongai Makotore was stolen in the same manner.
Following multiple thefts, police launched a manhunt that eventually led to Mutambanengwe’s arrest. On October 12 this year, he made a full confession, even taking police to several of the crime scenes to demonstrate how he executed his schemes.
The State prosecutor described his conduct as “calculated and ruthless,” saying, “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 made it clear that exploiting the goodwill of healthcare workers, especially those serving the sick and vulnerable, will not be tolerated. The ruling serves as a stern warning to others who may seek to prey on compassion for criminal gain.
