The newly-appointed operations director at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), Mr Richard Sithole, allegedly appeared drunk at a beauty contest held at the institution’s School of Nursing recently.

Witnesses told Sunday News that Mr Sithole walked into the venue of the beauty contest when the event had already started and allegedly gave a free mini-strip tease show to the stunned audience. The beauty contest was held on 31 March.

It is alleged that in the heat of things Mr Sithole removed his t-shirt, much to the amusement and shock of the audience, a majority of the student nurses. Student nurses and qualified nurses who attended the function and spoke to Sunday News expressed shock at Mr Sithole’s antics.

“We have never seen him that way. He removed his t-shirt and started dancing. It was very uncomfortable for us and we did not know what to do. We are still quite shocked. Mr Sithole is like a father to us, a brother to some and to see him dancing waving his shirt in the air was disturbing,” said a nurse who asked not to be named.

Another nurse who also attended the show added, “The only explanation to his behaviour is that he was drunk to a point of no return. He was a different person from what we thought him to be. Considering that he is new at the hospital, we may not know his true character, but we didn’t expect that from him,” said the nurse who requested anonymity.

As if Mr Sithole’s antics were not enough drama for that night, it is alleged that his car was found seemingly dumped at a bushy area near the hospital the following day.

Contacted for comment Mr Sithole confirmed that he takes alcohol but refuted allegations that he attended the show drunk.

He said it was not possible that he could have attended the show drunk as he had just knocked off from duty.

“I am not refusing that I take alcohol but what I am dismissing is that I was drunk on that day. That is not true. It was around 8pm and I had just knocked off from my duty hence I couldn’t have been drunk at that time,” he said.

He also said that there was no alcohol being sold at the beauty contest such that he could have been drunk. However, Mr Sithole, who claimed to be out of town when contacted for comment, asked this reporter to hold the story as he was prepared to give his full account when he returns to Bulawayo.

“I am attending a workshop in Mutare right now I cannot talk, you can call me after two weeks by then I will be back then we can talk,” he said.

It is said that Mr Sithole assumed the position of operations director early this year following the retirement of Mr Elliot Mashingaidze. – State Media