A nurse has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of the body of an eight-month-old infant from the mortuary at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, sparking public outrage and prompting a formal police investigation into possible mishandling of human remains.
The arrested individual, 32-year-old Munashe Ganyiwa, was part of the hospital’s nursing staff and had been attending to the infant, Emmanuel Charindapanze, who was admitted to the pediatric ward on Saturday. According to reports, Emmanuel developed sudden medical complications early Sunday morning. His mother, 46-year-old Shamiso Nyause, alerted staff, and Nurse Ganyiwa responded to the emergency, ultimately pronouncing the child deceased.
Hospital protocol was reportedly observed at the time: Nurse Ganyiwa removed the child’s clothing and returned it to the mother, while another hospital employee was assigned to transfer the body to the mortuary.
However, when the grieving parents returned on Monday to collect the body for burial, mortuary staff were unable to locate Emmanuel’s remains. A thorough search of all pediatric remains yielded no results. When questioned, Nurse Ganyiwa allegedly suggested that the body might have been mistakenly cremated—an assertion that further devastated the already distraught family.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the arrest, stating: “We have detained a healthcare worker in Chitungwiza regarding potential violations concerning human remains. The investigation commenced after the parents were unable to locate their child’s body despite having followed proper hospital procedures.”
Authorities continue to investigate the troubling circumstances surrounding the infant’s disappearance, as both the bereaved family and the wider medical community seek clarity and accountability in this deeply distressing case.
