Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Chitungwiza appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, facing fraud charges after allegedly operating a scheme that produced fake Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates.
Rufaro Perfect Mbofana appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo, who remanded him in custody until today for a bail hearing.
The complainant is the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), represented by its Security Loss Control Manager, Mr James Nyambonde.
Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu alleged that sometime around July 20, 2024, Mbofana devised a scheme to manufacture fraudulent academic certificates.
He allegedly created a WhatsApp group called “Academic Certificates”, where he advertised that he could produce Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates with improved grades for candidates who had failed examinations or had never sat for them.
The court heard that Mbofana would post sample certificates displaying enhanced grades and circulate invitation links to attract potential clients.
Interested individuals were allegedly required to pay an initial deposit of US$11 via EcoCash to begin the process, followed by a balance ranging between US$50 and US$60, depending on negotiations.
According to the State, ZIMSEC officials became aware of the operation and joined the WhatsApp group using an invitation link.
They allegedly discovered that Mbofana was falsely presenting himself as capable of producing authentic examination certificates, an act which they claim tarnished the examination body’s reputation and integrity.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to investigations. Detectives reportedly obtained search and seizure warrants and requested information from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.
The mobile network operator allegedly supplied the accused’s subscriber details and EcoCash transaction records, which assisted investigators in tracking him down.
Mbofana was subsequently arrested, and police recovered a Tecno Camon cellphone and two Econet SIM cards allegedly used in the commission of the offence.
The cellphone was seized and sent to the CID Cyber Laboratory for forensic examination. The State alleges that Mbofana’s actions prejudiced ZIMSEC by damaging its reputation and public image.
The matter is still under investigation.
Peter Tanyanyiwa