A Harare-based doctor has been dragged to court on allegations of fondling his client’s breasts and inserting fingers inside her private parts.
Tinovimba Mhlanga (36), who works at Ivirita Fertilisation Clinic in Belvedere, appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with indecent assault.
He was remanded out of custody to 28 July for trial on his own recognition since he came to court from home.
According to charges prepared by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on 14 March 2021, the alleged victim told police she was consulting Dr Mhlanga over processes to donate her egg to a couple that is struggling to conceive.
After collecting a blood sample for an HIV test, Dr Mhlanga – who was alone – allegedly advised the woman to enter an examination room, remove her clothes and wear a hospital gown.
The doctor allegedly followed the woman into the examination room moments later, but demanded that she should discard the gown so that he could carry out an “internal scan”.
It is alleged that Mhlanga instructed the victim to open her legs in a butterfly position for him to conduct the examination and she complied.
It further alleged that Mhlanga inserted his two fingers into the victims’ private parts whilst the other hand was holding her abdomen. This he did several times.
Mhlanga allegedly removed his fingers from the woman’s private parts and smeared the discharge on her clitoris.
He then instructed her to step down from the bed and bend down. Mhlanga allegedly inserted his fingers into the woman’s private parts whilst pressing himself on her.
Mhlanga allegedly told his victim that he was doing this to check if her discharge had no infection.
Mhlanga, it is further alleged, later removed the woman’s bra and started fondling her breasts saying he was conducting a breast examination whilst breathing heavily on her ear.
The court heard that the victim put on her clothes and left.
On the following day, the victim went to the Sally Mugabe Hospital where she narrated her experiences with Mhlanga the previous day.
She was examined and police were called leading to Mhlanga’s arrest.