TRIO IN COURT OVER FAKE ZIMSEC CERTIFICATES SCANDAL

THREE Harare men have appeared in court facing charges of allegedly producing and selling fake ZIMSEC certificates through WhatsApp platforms. Takura Maxton Taaziva (40), Pikitai Dzveda (30) and Kurayi Makwarawanda (53) were charged with contravening the ZIMSEC Act, which prohibits the unauthorised printing or sale of ZIMSEC certificates and awards. The State alleges that in January this year, Taaziva used WhatsApp groups, and his mobile phone, to advertise that he could alter ZIMSEC Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates for people who had failed examinations or had not sat for them.

Prosecutors allege that Taaziva claimed he could also alter diploma and degree certificates from various institutions, charging US$50 for a soft copy and US$70 for a certified hard copy. Acting on the information, ZIMSEC, represented by its security loss control manager James Nyambonde, allegedly engaged Taaziva and requested him to process an Ordinary Level certificate with improved grades for a candidate identified as Lucia Rutendo Mavhunga. The court heard that Taaziva allegedly edited the certificate using a Lenovo laptop loaded with software capable of altering grades before sending the document to Dzveda for printing.

Dzveda is accused of printing the certificate using computer equipment before passing it to Makwarawanda, who allegedly certified the document without verifying its authenticity. Investigations allegedly led to the arrest of Taaziva in Harare’s CBD on June 2. Police recovered laptops, mobile phones and three suspected fake ZIMSEC certificates.

[paywall]

Further investigations resulted in the recovery of additional computer equipment, mobile phones, a date stamp and an ink pad believed to have been used in the certification process. The recovered exhibits have since been sent to the CID Cyber Laboratory for examination. The State alleges that the trio’s actions prejudiced ZIMSEC and tarnished the examination body’s reputation.

[/paywall]