Story by Parvel Makona
THREE men from Harare have appeared in court facing charges of running a sophisticated syndicate that allegedly manufactured and sold fake Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates.
The accused , Takura Maxton Taaziva (40), Pikitai Dzveda (30) and Kurayi Makwarawanda (53), appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court on Thursday following their arrest over allegations of producing and distributing counterfeit ZIMSEC examination certificates.
They are being charged under Section 35(f) of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Act.
The State alleges that in January this year, Taaziva, a website developer, circulated messages in several WhatsApp groups claiming he had the capacity to generate, edit and alter ZIMSEC Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates.
He allegedly advertised charges of US$50 for a soft copy and US$70 for a hard copy.
The court heard that ZIMSEC’s security loss control manager, Mr James Nyambonde, allegedly posed as a client and engaged Taaziva, requesting a fake Ordinary Level certificate with improved grades for a fictitious student, Lucia Rutendo Mavhunga.
Taaziva is alleged to have edited the grades on a sample certificate and sent a soft copy to Dzveda for printing, while Makwarawanda allegedly certified the forged document.
Taaziva was arrested in Harare’s Central Business District on June 2 and subsequently implicated his alleged accomplices.
Police reportedly recovered several digital devices used in the production of the fake certificates, as well as additional counterfeit ZIMSEC documents bearing the name Lucia Rutendo Mavhunga.
The three are expected back in court on July 2.
