HARARE — Two Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) data capturer clerks have been arrested over an alleged vehicle licensing scam involving more than US$1 million, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said.
ZACC said Tinotenda Maningi and Chrison Chipanda allegedly worked with two accomplices, Ebenezzer Zvidza and Emmanuel Mushonga, who remain at large, to manipulate the VID’s computerized licensing system and fraudulently issue learner’s licences and Certificates of Competency to about 500 people who had neither undergone mandatory competency tests nor met legal requirements.
The anti-graft body said investigations found that the accused allegedly unlawfully accessed and manipulated electronic user accounts belonging to other VID officers to process and authorize fraudulent transactions, concealing their identities and compromising audit trails.
ZACC alleged the suspects also generated fake official payment receipts falsely indicating that statutory licensing fees had been paid into government accounts.
Instead of directing applicants to make payments through official government channels, the accused allegedly solicited and received bribes ranging from US$200 to more than US$500 per applicant, according to ZACC.
Investigators also allege the suspects worked with accomplices at the Central Vehicle Registry to facilitate the fraudulent processing of the documents, with a significant number of the beneficiaries reportedly being foreign nationals.
Maningi and Chipanda appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court on July 30 and were remanded in custody until Aug. 4.
