Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Military Police yesterday arrested a 42-year-old Harare man for allegedly impersonating a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and defrauding unsuspecting job seekers through fake recruitment claims.
Hardlife Nyoni of Waterfalls, Harare, who is employed as a general hand at Mkoba Teacher’s College, was apprehended in Harare’s central business district following a tip-off from members of the public that he was masquerading as a soldier and recruiting people into the army.
In a statement last night, ZNA Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Hlengiwe Dube, said the suspect had allegedly been using social media platforms to lure desperate job seekers.
“Circumstances leading to Nyoni’s arrest are that sometime this year, the suspect allegedly sent a text message in a WhatsApp group under the alias ‘General Talent Nyoni’ purportedly saying he was looking for potential candidates for recruitment in the ZNA,” said Col Dube.
One interested applicant contacted the suspect, who allegedly confirmed that he was facilitating recruitment and demanded US$100 from the applicant, claiming the money would help process the application despite the candidate lacking adequate qualifications.
Sensing some abnormalities in the recruitment process, the ‘potential’ recruit alerted the military police and lured the suspect into town where they met outside Harare Central Police Station to facilitate the transaction, said Col Dube.
