Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
TWO men allegedly duped members of the public into paying money for non-existent nursing training opportunities.
They claimed te training was being offered by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Panashe Sanyika (21), of Glen View 1, and Eric Tazvinzwa (77), of Glen View 1, appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai, facing fraud charges.
The State, represented by prosecutor Chipo Muvhamba, alleges that the two, acting in connivance with Edith Chidhakwa, who is still at large, hatched a plan to defraud members of the public by falsely claiming to be recruiting agents for the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The duo allegedly advertised nursing intake opportunities at various nursing schools across the country through WhatsApp groups, charging US$1,000 per person.
In one of the cases, the complainant, Ireen Phiri (52), allegedly responded to an advertisement this month and was directed to Sanyika’s WhatsApp number.
Sanyika allegedly confirmed that he was recruiting students for nursing programmes on behalf of the Ministry.
The complainant negotiated a discount and was charged US$800 as a recruitment fee and US$15 for a nursing uniform.
She allegedly paid the money to the two accused after being promised a nursing place within two weeks.
However, after the two weeks elapsed, without anything materialising, she discovered that the Ministry does not employ recruiting agents for nursing student enrolment.
She subsequently reported the matter to the police.
The State alleges that US$815 was lost in the transaction, with nothing recovered.
In a separate complaint, Ireen Guza (48), a supervisor employed by Simscore Cleaning Services, was allegedly duped of US$765 through a similar nursing recruitment scheme.
She paid US$700 as a recruitment fee and US$65 for a nursing uniform after being promised a nursing place within two weeks.
The complainant later discovered that the purported recruitment arrangement was fraudulent and reported the matter to the police.
The State alleges that the accused were involved in the scheme alongside Chidhakwa, who remains at large.
Tazvinzwa was released unconditionally pending trial because issues of bail didn’t arise as he was coming from home.
Sanyika is expected in court today for bail considerations.
