Thursday, September 17, 2026 - A private hospital in Southerton, Harare, is facing charges after an amputated human leg and other medical waste were discovered at a dumping site in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the
limb was mistakenly included in a consignment of medical waste collected from
the hospital for disposal. The partially burnt leg was discovered last week by
a woman searching the dumping site for recyclable plastic materials. It was
reportedly wrapped in bandages, while syringes, gloves and other medical waste
were found nearby.
Investigators subsequently established that the amputated
limb belonged to a 71-year-old man who had undergone a below-the-knee
amputation after receiving treatment for a diabetic foot ulcer. The procedure
was reportedly performed in August.
According to police investigations, a hospital waste
container containing the limb was mistakenly included among 29 bins handed to
Rajiv Makaza for disposal on September 6, 2026. Harare provincial police
spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed that investigations into the
incident were continuing and said the hospital would face charges under
Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Act.
“Investigations are underway. The hospital will be charged
for contravening Section 70(1) as read with Section 70(5) of the Environmental
Management Act, Chapter 20:27 for unlawfully discharging, disposing of, causing
or permitting the disposal of health-care waste in a manner that causes, or is
likely to cause, pollution to the environment and ill health to persons,”
Chakanza said.
The amputated limb has since been taken to the Chitungwiza
Central Hospital Mortuary while investigations continue. Police are
investigating how the container holding the limb was included in the waste
consignment and subsequently transported to the dumping site.
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