Hospital charged for dumping amputated leg and medical waste at local dump site

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.