Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has uncovered a well-organised fake certificate syndicate, which led to the conviction of 29-year-old student Cindy Mutswatiwa.
The Harare Magistrates’ Court sentenced her for forgery and fraud.
Mutswatiwa, who had only passed three subjects at Ordinary Level, admitted to using a forged ZIMSEC certificate that falsely showed she had passed seven subjects.
She used the fake qualification to secure a place at a Ukrainian university to study for a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. By the time the fraud was discovered, she was already in her third year of study.
The court handed her a 24-month prison sentence. However, 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while the remaining 12 months were set aside on the condition that she completes 420 hours of community service.
Investigations revealed that Mutswatiwa was part of a broader network involved in producing and authenticating fake academic documents.
The alleged accomplices include 41-year-old Molyn Mugodi, who is said to have produced the fake certificate; 39-year-old education consultant Kundai Mutape, who reportedly helped facilitate the process; and 32-year-old diplomatic courier Malvern Nengomasha, who allegedly arranged for the certificate to be authenticated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The three co-accused are now facing separate charges and are under investigation for their involvement in the wider forgery operation.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has condemned the crime as a serious violation of public trust.
It warned that such fraudulent behaviour not only damages personal reputations but also undermines the credibility of Zimbabwe’s education system.
The NPA stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of national qualifications, which must remain trustworthy for institutions both within Zimbabwe and abroad. It said:
Forgery of educational qualifications not only damages personal integrity, but it undermines the credibility of Zimbabwe’s education system. Institutions, both local and abroad, must be confident in the authenticity of our certificates. The justice system will continue to expose and penalize such dishonesty.
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