‘Dead’ man arrested in Chinhoyi

brother before going back to the National Social Security Authority 10 years later demanding his retirement benefits.
Martin Mavhura Ngandu (61), of Village 2 Bandera Farm under Chief Magonde, went to NSSA Chinhoyi offices on De-cember 13, 2002 and misrepresented to officers that he was Ringson Kamanga. To support his case, he produced a forged national identity card and an affidavit.

He also took with him a death certificate bearing his name as the deceased and was granted Z$3 000 as a funeral grant.
In his sworn affidavit, Ngandu indicated that his brother, who happened to be him, had left behind a family that needed to be taken care of.

“The deceased left two daughters – Gloria and Pindiri-dzai Ngandu. I am seeking assistance on behalf of the deceased’s daughters, as I am the one who is taking care of them,” reads Ngandu’s affidavit written on December 13, 2002.

That was enough to see him smiling all the way to the bank. But he was not to beat the system for the second time.
This time, he sought to benefit again after he had actually reached retirement age and was due for another windfall.

He again approached the offices last Thursday to seek assistance in getting his retirement benefits, but was arrested in the process.
Yesterday, Ngandu appeared in court charged with fraud.

He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Chi-nhoyi magistrate Mrs Nyaradzo Tukwa, who remanded him in custody pending sentencing on Monday.
The court heard that Ngandu approached a NSSA officer seeking assistance to get his retirement dues as he had reached the right age to qualify for the benefit.

Ngandu was asked to identify himself whereupon he produced his original identity card bearing the name Martin Mavhura Ngandu. The officer checked the records, which showed that Ngandu was dead.
Police were alerted and investigations at the Registrar-General’s Office confirmed that Ngandu was indeed dead according to death certificate record number FA915978.

Ringson Kamanga was also recorded dead at the Zvimba RG’s office record number ZBA1363/03.
Prosecutor Mr Vote Zishiri appeared for the State.