adminTendai Gukutikwa
IN an act of greediness, a Sakubva woman applied for and acquired a death certificate for her uncle in a bid to inherit his estate while he was still alive.
Appearing before Mutare magistrate, Mrs Annie Ndiraya, Tracy Maenzanise of Number 257, New Chisamba, Sakubva was convicted on her own guilty plea to charges of contravening the National Registration Act, Chapter 10:17.
Maenzanise was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which four months were wholly suspended on condition that she did not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
The remaining six months were also suspended on condition that she performs 280 hours of community service at Dangare Primary School with effect from December 8.
Mr Brian Goto prosecuted.
Maenzanise is said to have made a false statement with the intention of deceiving the registrar’s office when she commissioned an affidavit statement indicating that Lazarus Maenzanise had died in November 2004.
She managed to obtain her uncle’s death certificate.
“The accused proceeded to the Registrar General’s Office and applied for a death certificate for Lazarus Maenzanise knowing that he had not died.
“Investigations were made by Tarirai Musungo (34) who is employed at Mutare District Registry and it was discovered that Maenzanise had made a false statement which resulted in the issuing of a death certificate to Lazarus Maenzanise who had not died,” Mr Goto told the court.
Maenzanise was asked why she committed the crime and she said tearfully: “I erred, Your Worship. I obtained the death certificate behind my uncle’s back.”
It was revealed in court that her intention was to inherit her uncle’s estate. Her uncle owns a house in New Chisamba, Sakubva.
Maenzanise is said to have went to the extent of collecting her uncle’s pension at his former employer without his knowledge.
Online Reporter