adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
An ex-Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) trooper who resigned on medical grounds in 2010 was last week busted after operating from the Gweru Government Complex, which houses Midlands Provincial heads of Government, for the last five years masquerading as a serving member. Edwin Magodha (52), who left AFZ eight years ago on medical grounds while holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two had contacts of every Government provincial head including that of the base commander, Thornhill Airbase.
He used this network to dupe people seeking Government services, including job seekers. The self-confessed con-artist was busted by the Midlands Provincial Public service inspector, Mr Moses Moyo after he took his con-tricks to another level, extorting his own mother in-law of $100 after promising her a teaching job.
Worried that his bogus dealings had been discovered, Magodha tried to cover for the embarrassment and quickly offered to write an affidavit before Mr Moyo pledging to stop his 8-year operation at the New Government Complex without being exposed in every department.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Moyo said there was shock and disbelief as they walked around every department at the Government Complex where everyone thought Magodha was still a serving member of the military.
“He would pounce on everyone outside the complex in need of anything like a passport before he gets into offices with his Warrant Officer Class Two tag and helping people get the service and later demand some money.
“In every Government department Magodha had presented himself as a serving member of the Air Force of Zimbabwe saying he was a member of the reserve security operating in civilian attire and for all these years everyone seemed to have blindly believed him.
“They thought he had an office at the New Government Complex,” said Mr Moyo. Mr Moyo said he became suspicious of Magodha when he approached him saying he was looking for a teaching job for a relative. He said Magodha had received $100 from his mother-in law and promised her a teaching job.
“He had been lucky in every other department and would sometimes get assistance as a third party. After getting suspicious of his operations, I then set a trap and asked to meet his mother in-law who also thought Magodha was still serving in the army. She revealed that Magodha had told her that I met him and told him that there was a teaching vacancy following the death of a teacher at some school.
“He extorted $100 from his (mother in-law) and promised her the job. I then took time to interview Magodha and threatened to reveal his bogus dealings to all departments and he quickly offered to write an affidavit,” he said. Mr Moyo said even senior members from the police ranks thought Magodha was still a serving member.
“He has contacts for everyone who matters even the contacts of officer in Charge of all police stations so he would call and introduce himself as a warrant officer class two,’ he said.
In an interview before being handed over to the police at Gweru Central Police yesterday, Magodha confirmed that he was a con-artist who left the army long back. He said he left the service when he still enjoyed his work. “I have been a solder and I enjoyed it. I left the force as a Warrant officer Class Two on medical grounds, but I still enjoy my work and feel I am still in the force.”
Online Reporter