News / National
Zimbabwe deports Briton, Australian
18 Oct 2010 at 10:29hrs | Views
THE Immigration Department has deported an Australian and Briton who separately entered Zimbabwe as visitors before acquiring fake resident permits through a registered travel agency.
Julliete Caroline (23) and Davis Michael James (27) allegedly got the fake permits from one Emmanuel Pasipanodya Mukunyadza, the director of Empel Consultancy in Newlands, Harare.
Investigations have so far revealed that the two were charged US$500 each to secure the documents.
They were arrested in Harare and Victoria Falls and reportedly fingered Mukunyadza.
Mukunyadza has in the past been picked up for questioning but reportedly implicated his former boss, John Siwela, as the person issuing fake permits.
Siwela is believed to have skipped the country.
The immigration stamps are understood to have been stolen from the department with the help of unscrupulous staff.
Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mr Evans Siziba said, "Mukunyadza pointed out that his former employer John Siwela might have connived with immigration officials."
Immigration Department director of operations Mr Givemore Charamba urged foreigners to use legal channels to register their stay and activities.
"Our charges don't exceed US$1 000 and sometimes they might be free.
"There are a number of foreigners who are engaging third parties through their friends and relatives when they want our services," he said.
He said they risked losing a lot of money to conmen.
Mr Charamba said, "Some disgraced immigration officials are also acting as consultants and duping people of their hard-earned cash."
Julliete Caroline (23) and Davis Michael James (27) allegedly got the fake permits from one Emmanuel Pasipanodya Mukunyadza, the director of Empel Consultancy in Newlands, Harare.
Investigations have so far revealed that the two were charged US$500 each to secure the documents.
They were arrested in Harare and Victoria Falls and reportedly fingered Mukunyadza.
Mukunyadza has in the past been picked up for questioning but reportedly implicated his former boss, John Siwela, as the person issuing fake permits.
Siwela is believed to have skipped the country.
Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mr Evans Siziba said, "Mukunyadza pointed out that his former employer John Siwela might have connived with immigration officials."
Immigration Department director of operations Mr Givemore Charamba urged foreigners to use legal channels to register their stay and activities.
"Our charges don't exceed US$1 000 and sometimes they might be free.
"There are a number of foreigners who are engaging third parties through their friends and relatives when they want our services," he said.
He said they risked losing a lot of money to conmen.
Mr Charamba said, "Some disgraced immigration officials are also acting as consultants and duping people of their hard-earned cash."
Source - Herald
