Fake Comesa certificates backfire

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

AN alleged mastermind behind the issuance of counterfeit Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) yellow card compliance certificates to crossborder transporters, has appeared in court.

Mugove Simbirai Nidza appeared before magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo who granted him US$200 bail.

According to the State, Nidza was arrested after an operation was conducted by the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) and the police last month.

The yellow card is a regional third-party insurance document covering all Comesa-affiliated countries. It is issued by registered insurance companies under the authority of the ICZ.

During the blitz, authorities discovered that 22 fake Comesa yellow cards had been issued to trucks belonging to C-Time Transport, a company based in Beira, Mozambique.

This triggered an investigation which showed that the fake certificates had been issued at Forbes Border Post by Godwin Mukodza, who reportedly supplied them to C-Time Transport.

Upon questioning, Mukodza said he obtained the certificates from Nidza who allegedly connived with Emily Masenga.

Masenga, who is already on remand, posed as an agent for Tristar Insurance Company, formerly located at 3 Harare Drive, Gunhill, in Harare.

However, investigations revealed that Tristar Insurance is no longer operational in Zimbabwe.

Masenga was arrested by detectives from CID Homicide on May 10, 2025.

During questioning, she implicated Nidza as the mastermind behind the scheme. Acting on a tip-off, detectives located and arrested Nidza at Leisure Centre in Chitungwiza on May 12.