MUTARE – The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has officially revoked the trading licence of prominent Mutare pharmacist Douglas Nzombe Chiutsi, formerly the managing director of Healthwell Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd, which operated Clique Pharmacy in the city. The decision comes after a series of alleged offences, including the sale of unregistered drugs, which the MCAZ considers a serious threat to public health.
In a circular released on April 7, 2025, MCAZ Director-General Richard Rukwata announced the deregistration, citing a “litany of offences” committed by Chiutsi during his tenure at Healthwell. The sale of unregistered drugs is a critical violation, according to Rukwata, due to the inherent risks it poses to unsuspecting members of the public.
The licence cancellation was initially communicated to Chiutsi on August 2 last year, before being publicly advertised this month. Clique (Healthwell) Pharmacy was listed alongside six other pharmacies in Harare and five other licence holders affected by the MCAZ decision.
“MCAZ advises its stakeholders of the cancellation of the following Wholesale Dealers Permits, Pharmacy Licence and Persons Licences. The cancellation periods will lapse on the dates indicated,” Rukwata stated in the circular.
In addition to the licence cancellation, which is set to last until July 2027, MCAZ has imposed a three-year ban on Chiutsi, preventing him from applying for a new licence or engaging in any activities related to the trade of medicines.
Trading Despite Ban
Despite the MCAZ ban, reports indicate that Chiutsi is continuing to trade in medicines, allegedly moonlighting at a new pharmacy outlet called Alleviate Pharmacy. The new establishment is located a stone’s throw from his former place of business, where he committed the alleged offences. Sources suggest that MCAZ is aware of Chiutsi’s continued involvement in the pharmaceutical trade.
Fraud and Forgery Allegations
Chiutsi, 39, has been embroiled in a series of legal battles, having been detained at Mutare Remand Prison on at least three separate occasions on allegations of fraud and forgery. He first hogged the limelight last year in connection with a US$258,708 fraud case, resulting in a 10-day incarceration before being released on bail.
Earlier this year, Chiutsi was arrested again while attending to clients in the consultation room at Alleviate Pharmacy. He is currently out on bail and appeared in court on April 24, 2025, on one of the cases where he is facing forgery charges.
Furthermore, Chiutsi is scheduled to appear in court on April 28, 2025, to face charges of defrauding his former employer, Healthwell Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd t/a Clique Pharmacy, of a staggering US$260,000.
Bail Revoked for Interfering with Evidence
Chiutsi’s legal troubles deepened when his bail was revoked in February this year after he was accused of interfering with evidence in the US$258,708 fraud case. Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe, had initially denied him bail in June 2024, citing concerns that he was likely to interfere with witnesses as investigations were still ongoing due to the complexity of the case.
It is alleged that on February 1, Chiutsi, under the escort of police detectives from the Commercial Crimes Division, Northern Region, led by Detective Constable Toronga, stormed into Clique Pharmacy, where a computer server containing crucial evidence in his fraud case was stored. He reportedly had unlimited access to the server for approximately 20 minutes before abruptly leaving the pharmacy.
During a court hearing, Ms Joyce Tinarwo, representing the State, questioned Chiutsi, who was acting as his own lawyer, about the incident. Chiutsi admitted to entering Clique Pharmacy and accessing the server but argued that he had entered a “new” pharmacy run by Tirman Investments (Pvt) Ltd, a different entity from Healthwell Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd.
However, the evidence presented to the court indicated that Chiutsi had, in fact, accessed the server belonging to Healthwell Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd, t/a Clique Pharmacy. The court ruled that Chiutsi had violated his bail conditions by interfering with evidence, leading to the revocation of his bail and his subsequent return to Mutare Remand Prison.
After a full hearing, the court found that Chiutsi violated his bail conditions by entering the server. His bail was revoked, and he was whisked away by prison officials to Mutare Remand Prison.
He will be back in court today for continuation of trial.
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