A 40-year-old patient has been arrested at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare after he was allegedly caught stealing copper pipes from hospital equipment.
The suspect, identified as Taona Dzimbo, had been admitted to the hospital for treatment of a fractured leg when he was found tampering with examination lights and removing copper fittings, police said.
Authorities discovered 45 copper pipe pieces, each about 20 centimetres long, along with an aluminium pipe hidden in his hospital locker.
Police confirmed that Dzimbo is now under guard while receiving medical attention and will face theft charges once discharged.
The incident has raised concerns about growing cases of theft and vandalism targeting public health institutions already struggling with limited resources.
