Malawi fake doctor gets 6-year prison sentence

Self acclaimed medical doctor John Ben Kamanga has been handed a six year-jail term by the Blantyre Magistrate Court after observing that Kamanga, whose real profession is shoe vending, needed a custodial sentence because his offense endangered human life.

The quak 'doctor' jailed
The quack ‘doctor’ jailed

The Form 2 drop out hit headlines last November when he was arrested at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, where he posed as Dr Zizwani Mwafulirwa.

The fake Doctor pleaded guilty to all the five counts levelled against him which included impersonating a Public Officer which is contrary to Section 99 (b) of the Penal Code and Theft which contrary to Section 278.

Delivering her judgement, First Grade Magistrate Diana Kamwangala Mangwana observed that the gravity of the case of the accused involves human life; as such it was not proper to evoke Section 340 which says custodial sentence should be the last resort for first offenders.

The Magistrate did not spare the management of QECH and regulatory body Medical Council, for failing to tighten security at the Central hospital and cornering the bogus Doctor, saying negligence leaves a lot to be desired.

“This is a wakeup call to avoid repetition of the same,” said the Magistrate.

The Court learnt that the real Dr Zizwani Mwafulirwa had reported to Lilongwe Police Station on October 16, 2014 of the loss a black bag, two stethoscopes and medical books among others valued at K96, 400 at the Kamuzu Central Hospital.

In his mitigation, Kamanga, asked the Court to be lenient with him because he was a family man with two children one of whom was a person living with disability.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
29 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
ine mmalawi
ine mmalawi
9 years ago

Takuluwikidwa Apa Ndithu,

ine mmalawi
ine mmalawi
9 years ago

Imposible,

Mirella K
Mirella K
9 years ago

Fellow Malawians, what’s your argument for this buddy’s high prison term? Endangered lives of Malawians? Hhhhhmm I choose to differ. Our hospitals are already more of dying sheds than curing dens! We already have incompetent, unmotivated doctors around who fight to bcom DHOs than practitioners! The best this incompetent Injustice system our our cld hav done is to let this poor idiot go n continue selling his torn 3rd hand shoes and lock all the people who siphoned millions of kwachas from govt coffers!

nankhoma
nankhoma
9 years ago

Okuba K62 Milion 3 years, fake doctor 6 years. A malawi Chilungamo mudatayiladi galu.

chitambis@gmail.com
9 years ago

their is a big chain coz he can’t do it all alone the idea was shared with someone else within

Citizen 'O'
Citizen 'O'
9 years ago

Nkhani yeniyeni yabisidwa apa, there is no way munthu wamba angalimbe mtima kukalowa mchipatala kumagwira ntchito. There was need for thorough scrutiny. To me things arent adding up here. Nthawa yomwe amamugwira timamva kuti alipo angapo and the implication is that management imadziwa za anthu amenewa. Settling issues the Malawian way, kkkkkkkkk!

mwewo woyiba
mwewo woyiba
9 years ago
Reply to  Citizen 'O'

Izi sizikumveka mpaka munthu wa JC level kugwira ngati Doctor osamugwira. Ma nurse osadabwa kantvhu, Language ya chipatala amaitha bwanji lay person negative Kamangayu? Osalephera anthu ambiri anataya miyoyo yao chifukwa cha usiru wa mabwana apachipatalachi. Amene ma

uDoctor wogulawu wa Nigeria

Thomas
Thomas
9 years ago

Are these in lightblue shirts and blue trousers are MPS if are MPS pls try change Uniform and Feed them pls

MBACHI
MBACHI
9 years ago

THE BEST WAS TO HANG HIM. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HE HAS KILLED AT THAT HOSPITAL.

Mack Banda
9 years ago

Hospital security is a sham. You mean the real doctors couldnt recognise a fake ‘doctor’ within their midist! Shame, very shame on the hospital management.

Munthu Wabwino
Munthu Wabwino
9 years ago

The fitting punishment was supposed to be death by hanging.

Read previous post:
Malawi songstress Lilia working on album

Having released her latest single “Hold Me” off the Play Nylon Riddim, female singer Lilia has revealed that she is...

Close