The accused is Josiah Sinai who is employed by Zimbabwe United Passenger Company Pvt Ltd (ZUPCO) as an Analysis Clerk stationed at ZUPCO Mutare Depot.
In July 2020, the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company Pvt Ltd conducted a recruitment of Analysis Clerks. Applicants for the Analysis Clerk position were supposed to have at least 5 ordinary level passes including Mathematics and English Language and also be a holder of either a Diploma in Accounting or Degree in Accounting from any recognised tertiary institution in Zimbabwe.
Accused one applied for the vacancy and was considered for interviews as he had submitted copies of his academic qualifications which includes an ordinary level certificate issued by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in Collaboration with Ministry of Education and Culture Zimbabwe indicating that he possess 5 ordinary level passes including Mathematics and English Language for November 1991 examinations written at Sakubva Secondary No2, an advanced level certificate issued by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in Collaboration with the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council indicating that he attained 3 passes in English Literature, Mathematics and Physics in November 1996 examinations written at Biriri High School, a diploma in Accounting issued to the accused by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education on 31st of December 1998.
Accused was subsequently appointed to be an Analysis Clerk by ZUPCO under Accounts department effective from 03 August 2020.
Accused was later instructed to submit his original academic certificates as it was later noted that the copies he had earlier submitted were not certified.
On 29 May 2023, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission received an anonymous tip-off from which accused person was alleged to be using fake academic certificates. The investigating team obtained the accused’s personal file from ZUPCO Mutare deport through a warrant of search and seizure.
The team visited Sakubva High School No2 to verify accused person’s ordinary level certificate. It was established that Sakubva High School No2 uses the name Rushingo as its center name for examinations and that it never used Sakubva Secondary School No2 for examinations. The Headmaster provided a copy of the ordinary certificates which were issued in 1991 by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in Collaboration with Ministry of Education and Culture Zimbabwe for November 1991 examinations. There were notable anomalies on the accused person’s certified copy.
The first anomaly is that the centre name for Sakubva High School No2 has always been Rushingo Secondary School with centre number being Z2310 and not Sakubva Secondary School No2 which had a centre number Z2196 as indicated on the accused’s certified copy.
The second anomaly is that the candidate number on original copies issued in 1991 by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in Collaboration with Ministry of Education and Culture Zimbabwe for November 1991 examinations was a cumulative figure starting from 1 going up to the last candidate. A copy from the set of these certificates was provided where candidate number is 57 and the candidate number on accused one’s certificate is 0058.
The third anomaly is that, on original copies issued in 1991 by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in Collaboration with Ministry of Education and Culture Zimbabwe for November 1991 examinations has a signature for the Permanent Secretary and Culture yet the accused’s certificate which is purported to have been issued from the same examining board has a different signature for a different title of Permanent Secretary for Education. It became clear that accused person’s ordinary level certificate was a forged document.
Accused submitted a copy of a forged ordinary level certificate to the ZUPCO Mutare Human resources clerk with the intention of deceiving the Human Resource Clerk or realising that there was a real risk or possibility of deceiving the Human Resources Clerk and intending to cause the
Human Resources Clerk to act upon the misrepresentation to the prejudice of ZUPCO or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that the Human Resources Clerk may act upon the misrepresentation to the prejudice of ZUPCO. ZUPCO suffered a prejudice to good administration and reputation.
