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A 22-year-old police officer appeared in court over the weekend after she allegedly forged her educational qualifications in order to get a place in the force.
Miriam Mawonera was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate, Yeukai Dzuda, who remanded her in custody to today pending her bail application.
The complainant is the State, being represented by Siphosami Tshuma, a Superintendent in the Zimbabwe Republic Police stationed at Police General Headquarters Recruiting Section.
Mawonera is currently undergoing initial police training at ZRP Mkushi Training Depot.
The court heard that on April 18 last year, the ZRP flighted an advert in a local newspaper, inviting individuals who met their recruitment criteria to apply.
Mawonera was among many who applied.
The ZRP Recruiting Section received her application, which included a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary Level Certificate, for November 2017, with two O-Level passes; English Language (C) and Mathematics (A).
Mawonera was subsequently attested into the ZRP on November 9, 2021, and started training at Mkushi Training Depot.
Her salary was processed while the ZRP sent her O-Level certificates to ZIMSEC for verification.
In May this year, the ZRP received results from ZIMSEC indicating that Mawonera had filed a forged Ordinary Level certificate for November 2017.
Her true results for November 2017 are English Language (D) and Mathematics A.
As a result of this misrepresentation, the State suffered actual prejudice of Z$179 571,48 and USS600 in the form of salary payments to Mawonera.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter