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Fake Zim 'Dr' reported to Zambian police for fake degrees

by Staff reporter
17 Jan 2013 at 12:27hrs | Views
Tinaye Mugadza, the Zimbabwean who was reported to Lusaka police for possessing fake degrees was also convicted in Zimbabwe for a similar offence.

According to the Herald Newspaper of Zimbabwe, Mugadza was arrested in May 2007 for using fake certificates to get a job at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe.

He worked as Lecturer at the university before being discovered and arrested.

He was fined $40 000 or three months imprisonment if he failed to pay the money by Chinhoyi magistrate Tawanda Katehwe.

Early this week, the Zambia Federation of Employers reported Tinaye Mugadza to police for possessing fake academic qualifications, including a PhD in economics, which he has been using to get employment from various institutions.

Mugadza purports to hold a Doctorate of Science Degree (PhD) in economics from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master of Science degree in economics from the same institution.

But the University of Zimbabwe denied ever conferring such lofty degrees on the conman.

"This letter serves to confirm that Tinaye Mugadza never registered with the University of Zimbabwe at any one time. We have no such name in our data base," read the letter date August 25, 2012 and signed by an administrative assistant, a Mrs. E Rubaba.

"If he is sure that he was a student at this institution, can he provide us with his student number and a copy of his transcript. Should you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned."

Mugadza's alleged PhD certificate number SS 00125 dated 17th October 2005 and his Master of Science degree in economics certificate number SS 00119 dated 17th October 2003 show that he graduated with merits in both programmes.

And the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) has dismissed Mugadza's Grade 12 school certificate as fake.

"A copy of the statement of results examination number 6472830179 in the name of Mugaza Tinai who purports to have written the Grade 12 examinations at Mumbwa APU Academic Production Unity Centre in 1995 presented to this office has been verified. The document is not genuine," stated the October 31, 2012 ECZ letter signed by senior records officer, P Mbewe.

Mugadza's Grade 12 transcript of results shows that he had merits in geography, mathematics, biology, science and commerce with credits in English language, Christian religious education and history.

Source - zambiawatch