Fake certificates at Mugabe's office

A GWERU woman was arrested after allegedly superimposing her name on her sister's Ordinary Level certificate, scanning it and using it in an attempt to secure a job with the Office of the President

Linda Chizema Gapu, 20, of Mkoba Village 15 appeared before Gweru Magistrate Mildred Matuvi facing one count of forgery.

She pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial.

Gapu told the court she committed the offence to get a good job and improve her standard of living after dismally failing her Ordinary Level exams.

"Your Worship it was wrong for me to forge my sister's certificate.

"I only wanted to secure a good job as I failed my examinations back in 2010," she said.

Prosecuting, Daniel Tafuma told the court that on a date unknown to the prosecutor but sometime in March this year, Gapu offered an Ordinary Level certificate to the Office of the President and Cabinet looking for employment.

"The certificate was sent to the Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) for verification in November.

"Lee Banda from the verification office at Zimsec noted that the certificate was a fake," he said.

Tafuma said Banda noted that the certificate was for St Dominic's (Chishawasha) Secondary School and belonged to Gapu's sister, Linnet Chizema Gapu and that she did not sit for her Ordinary Level exams in November 2010 at the said schooL

The court heard that Banda did further verifications and it was revealed that Gapu had written her examinations in November 2012 at Nkululeko High School.

"Banda then noticed that Gapu had altered the name and year on the certificate that belonged to her sister, Linnet, so that she could use the certificate and secure a job," said Tafuma.

Police officers received the Zimsec report on December 2 and arrested Gapu.