Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
BULAWAYO – Four individuals have been convicted and fined by the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court for forging and selling counterfeit National University of Science and Technology (NUST) graduation invitation cards. The group was arrested during the university’s graduation ceremony on 3 October 2025.
The convicted individuals are Carol Tinotenda Makadzange (28), Ike Marcus Chinyuku (26), Rudo Joyce Kavande (27), and Mqondisi Mlilo (27). They were charged with possession of articles for criminal use after being found with fake graduation cards designed to defraud parents and guardians.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the quartet conspired to print and sell the counterfeit invitations. Their scheme unravelled when an undercover officer purchased a fake card from Makadzange for US$10, leading to her implicating the others.
A subsequent police search resulted in the recovery of 197 counterfeit invitation cards, US$310 and ZAR700 in cash from illegal sales, and a desktop computer used to produce the fraudulent materials.
The court imposed a US$350 fine on each convict, with a seven-month imprisonment term in default of payment. An additional three-month prison sentence was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
All seized property, including the fake cards, cash, and computer, was forfeited to the State.
In a statement, the NPAZ emphasized the importance of protecting academic institutions from fraudulent activities.
“Academic events and institutions must be protected from fraudsters who prey on public excitement,” the NPAZ said.
The conviction serves as a warning that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in combating corruption and ensuring justice is served.
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