Online Reporter
Court Correspondent
A HARARE man, who is believed to be the brains behind the issuance of counterfeit Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) yellow card compliance certificates to cross-border transporters, has been hauled before the court.
Mugove Simbirai Nidza recently appeared before magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo and was granted US$200 bail.
Nidza was arrested last month after an operation by the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) and police.
The operation, which targeted foreign-registered cars, was meant to verify compliance with the COMESA yellow card requirements.
The COMESA yellow card is a regional third-party insurance document covering the bloc’s affiliated countries.
It is issued by registered insurance companies under 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.
The findings prompted an investigation, which revealed 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 claimed he obtained the certificates from Nidza, who reportedly 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 operating 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.
Online Reporter