Man arrested after allegedly impersonating doctor and charging patient for tooth removal

Man arrested after allegedly impersonating doctor and charging patient for tooth removal A man identified as Mr. Zimba has reportedly discovered that impersonating a doctor can be a rather painful career choice after allegedly collecting K400 from a patient at Chilenje Level 1 Hospital before being arrested and handed over to police. Lusaka, 12 September- […]

Man arrested after allegedly impersonating doctor and charging patient for tooth removal

A man identified as Mr. Zimba has reportedly discovered that impersonating a doctor can be a rather painful career choice after allegedly collecting K400 from a patient at Chilenje Level 1 Hospital before being arrested and handed over to police.

Lusaka, 12 September-   According to reports, the incident began when a young girl from Kamwala South visited the hospital for what should have been a routine dental procedure: getting rid of an unwanted tooth and going home with one less problem to worry about.

While at the hospital, the girl was allegedly approached by Zimba, who introduced himself as a doctor. Apparently confident in his new profession, he informed her that the tooth extraction would cost K400.

The girl, trusting that she was dealing with a genuine health worker, paid the money and was instructed to wait for her turn.

Everything appeared to be proceeding according to plan, except that the plan was apparently not Zimba’s to execute.

When her turn finally came, the girl entered the dental room, where the actual doctor reportedly informed her that the procedure required a payment of only K100.

That was the moment the mathematics became suspicious.

The girl realized that she had apparently paid K400 to someone who was not the doctor, while the genuine doctor was asking for K100. She paid the correct amount, had her tooth removed and left the hospital, presumably with a lighter tooth and a much heavier lesson in verifying who is standing in front of the hospital payment counter.

But the story did not end at the dental chair.

As the girl and her guardians made their way towards Chilenje Bus Station, they reportedly spotted Zimba at an Airtel booth.

The reunion was considerably less friendly than their first encounter.

The group confronted him over the K400, and Zimba allegedly admitted that he had collected the money because he was under pressure.

He reportedly asked them to return to the hospital with him, promising that he would obtain money from a friend and refund the cash.

Unfortunately for Zimba, the mysterious financial rescue operation did not materialise.

He apparently had no friend available to bail him out, leaving his refund strategy with about as much life as an expired prescription.

Things then escalated.

Zimba reportedly attempted to run away, but his escape plan failed. He was caught and subsequently handed over to Chilenje Police, where his alleged medical career came to an abrupt end.

Authorities are urging members of the public to remain vigilant and ensure that hospital fees are paid only at designated payment points. Patients are also encouraged to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a health worker before handing over money.

After all, when someone in a hospital asks for K400 to remove a tooth, it may be worth confirming whether they actually work there before paying for the procedure, the doctor’s lunch and possibly the next chapter of their entrepreneurial journey.

-Nkanionline 2026 #NewsOnDemand