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Prosecutor General slams shockingly lenient sentence for four Cameroonians

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Prosecutor General Loyce Matanda-Moyo has sharply criticized the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court for handing a “shockingly lenient” sentence to four Cameroonian nationals convicted of immigration fraud. The Prosecutor General has since lodged an appeal with the High Court, seeking a harsher punishment for the accused.
The four Cameroonians—Christiana Byombe Duma Ebako, Muya Muya Emile, Tegha Marvel Ngei, and Nnam Yvette Kum—were convicted of violating Section 36(1)(a)(iii) of the Immigration Act (Chapter 04:02) after pleading guilty to obtaining fraudulent Zimbabwean passports. Despite their admission of guilt, the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court sentenced them to a caution and discharge, sparking outrage from the state prosecutor.

“The sentence induces shock and is manifestly lenient and does not meet the justice of the case,” the Prosecutor General said in a statement, arguing that it fails to adequately address the severity of the crime or meet the demands of justice. In her appeal, the Prosecutor General also named the presiding magistrate as the fifth respondent.

According to court documents, the four individuals, who are based in Cameroon, conspired with Zimbabwean national Tafadzwa Chiundiza between July and September to bribe employees at the Registrar General’s Office. The illegal scheme allowed the Cameroonians to obtain Zimbabwean passports using their first names and photographs, despite having no legal entitlement to the documents.

The quartet was intercepted by immigration officers at the Beitbridge border post when they attempted to use the fraudulent passports to enter Zimbabwe. Investigations revealed that they had provided false information to obtain the travel documents, leading to their arrest.

The case has sparked further investigations into corruption at the Registrar General’s Office, culminating in the arrest of several employees, some of whom have since appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court.

The appeal by the Prosecutor General comes amid growing concerns over corruption and misconduct in the country’s immigration and registrar offices, where allegations of bribery have led to several arrests in recent months. The Prosecutor General is pushing for a more severe sentence to set an example and curb future illegal activities involving the issuance of fraudulent documents.

The High Court is expected to hear the appeal in the coming weeks as the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe continues its efforts to combat crime and corruption in the public sector.