News / National
Bulawayo fake ID syndicate busted
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Two men who operated a fake identity card manufacturing scheme from inside a government registry office in Bulawayo have been jailed following a sensational exposé and police crackdown.
Brian Veririzhi (40) and Thamsanqa Moyo (37) were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after being convicted of forgery under Section 137 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The two had been running their illegal operation from within the Umguza Civil Registry Department, housed at the Tredgold Building-just metres from the city's courts.
Their illicit operation came crashing down in April after an undercover Check Point investigation revealed the existence of a well-oiled fake ID production line operating with alarming ease.
Prosecutor Josephine Gurazhira told the court that the pair used official-looking equipment and forged documentation to produce and sell counterfeit Zimbabwean national identity cards, putting national security and public trust at risk.
"The accused persons deliberately manufactured fake identity documents and sold them to individuals for financial gain, knowing fully well the implications of such forgeries," said Gurazhira.
Appearing before Magistrate Beverly Madzikatire on Friday, the two men were slapped with 24-month prison terms, though six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour-leaving them to serve 18 months in prison.
Magistrate Madzikatire described their actions as "a serious breach of public trust" and "a threat to national security," stressing that custodial sentences were necessary to send a strong message against document fraud.
The case has raised fresh concerns about corruption and weak oversight within public institutions. How the two men managed to run a sophisticated forgery ring from a civil registry office without detection for so long remains a glaring question.
Authorities have since launched internal investigations at the Umguza Registry, and further arrests are expected as law enforcement continues to dig into how deep the forgery syndicate runs.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have called for tighter security at all registry offices and the digitisation of Zimbabwe's identity systems to prevent similar scams in the future.
Brian Veririzhi (40) and Thamsanqa Moyo (37) were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after being convicted of forgery under Section 137 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The two had been running their illegal operation from within the Umguza Civil Registry Department, housed at the Tredgold Building-just metres from the city's courts.
Their illicit operation came crashing down in April after an undercover Check Point investigation revealed the existence of a well-oiled fake ID production line operating with alarming ease.
Prosecutor Josephine Gurazhira told the court that the pair used official-looking equipment and forged documentation to produce and sell counterfeit Zimbabwean national identity cards, putting national security and public trust at risk.
"The accused persons deliberately manufactured fake identity documents and sold them to individuals for financial gain, knowing fully well the implications of such forgeries," said Gurazhira.
Appearing before Magistrate Beverly Madzikatire on Friday, the two men were slapped with 24-month prison terms, though six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour-leaving them to serve 18 months in prison.
Magistrate Madzikatire described their actions as "a serious breach of public trust" and "a threat to national security," stressing that custodial sentences were necessary to send a strong message against document fraud.
The case has raised fresh concerns about corruption and weak oversight within public institutions. How the two men managed to run a sophisticated forgery ring from a civil registry office without detection for so long remains a glaring question.
Authorities have since launched internal investigations at the Umguza Registry, and further arrests are expected as law enforcement continues to dig into how deep the forgery syndicate runs.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have called for tighter security at all registry offices and the digitisation of Zimbabwe's identity systems to prevent similar scams in the future.
Source - B-Metro
