Eight Passport Office Employees Arrested for Fraudulently Issuing Zimbabwean Passports to Cameroonian Nationals
In a significant move by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), eight employees of the Civil Registry Department in Harare have been arrested.
The arrests are linked to the alleged fraudulent issuance of Zimbabwean passports to four Cameroonian nationals, who were apprehended at the Beitbridge border while attempting to cross into South Africa.
Officials Implicated in Passport Fraud Scheme
According to ZimLive, the arrested suspects have been identified as Romeo Shonhiwa, Marrian Roman, Lackmore Chinokokora, Grace Kapungu, Chiedza Hlomani, Maureen Natasha Munemo, Tanaka Magaya, and Edith Moto.
All eight individuals have since been charged with criminal abuse of office for their role in the illegal passport issuance.
Fraudulent Documentation and Expedited Processing
The four Cameroonian citizens were caught with freshly issued Zimbabwean passports that had Shona names, despite their inability to speak the language. The names used included Emile Chingwaru, Christiana Mhereyenyoka, Yvette Maini, and Marvel Chimbwanda, all listed as hailing from Mount Darwin.
According to reports, the Cameroonians initially acquired fraudulent birth certificates from Mount Darwin, which they later used to claim lost identity documents at the Harare passport office.
The passports were then issued after only two days, an unusually fast turnaround compared to the standard seven-day processing time.
Each passport was obtained for a fee of $170, but the Cameroonians admitted to paying a bribe of $1,500 each to expedite the process, with the goal of using the passports to enter South Africa and later seek entry into the United Kingdom.
Police Investigations Point to Larger Corruption Scheme
The ZRP is investigating a wider network within the Registrar General’s office, suspecting that several employees were involved in this fraudulent scheme. Two general workers, Neria Sombi and Trymore Chipanga, have already been questioned after CCTV footage captured them assisting in the fraudulent applications.
Footage also revealed that one of the suspects, Tanaka Magaya, was handed money by a woman believed to be involved in the operation, further implicating the arrested employees in the illegal passport issuance scheme.
Legal Proceedings Underway
The Cameroonian nationals, now charged with fraud, remain in police custody alongside the eight arrested passport office employees. As the investigation continues, authorities believe more individuals could be implicated in this widespread corruption scandal.