Tendai Gukutikwa
Luthando Mapepa
Correspondent
A CHIPINGE woman, Patricia Muyambo Magazini, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted on nine counts of fraud involving a total of US$40 020.
Magazini appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Bisherd Chineka, facing charges of deceitfully offering fake nursing training placements at Mashoko Mission Hospital.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Marlon Makamba, Magazini falsely claimed to be an employee of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, based at Mashoko Mission Hospital in Bikita.
She approached potential victims – sometimes through intermediaries – offering them non-existent opportunities to enrol in nursing training programmes.
In one case, she contacted a local prophetess, pretending to express gratitude for past prayers, and leveraged that trust to extend her fraudulent offer.
Victims were asked to pay money under the condition that it would cover training fees, accommodation, and uniforms.
Payments were made via various mobile money platforms including Mojomula, Innbucks, Mukuru, and Ecocash.
To sustain the scam, Magazini reassured victims with false claims, such as promising that their names would appear in official publications like The Herald and Sunday Mail.
When suspicions arose, she would offer excuses and further deceptive assurances.
The fraudulent activities were carried out over an extended period, targeting multiple groups of victims at different times.
Online Reporter