The fake certificate saga engulfing Mpilo Central Hospital has escalated into a nationwide crisis, with a deputy headmaster now behind bars and growing calls for a sweeping audit of academic qualifications across Zimbabwe.
Lazarus Munatsi (50), deputy head at Tsungai High School in Gokwe, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba facing fraud and forgery charges. He was remanded in custody until October 3, while his alleged accomplice, Tonderai Mukakati, remains on the run.
Munatsi joins several other suspects linked to the scandal, including Thelma Gurupira (23), Sandra Kudzaishe Ndege (25), and Taurayi Prosper Vanhuvaone (29), all accused of sneaking into Mpilo through counterfeit academic papers. A source close to the investigation warned that the problem stretches far beyond Mpilo.
“This is just the beginning. Fake certificates are everywhere, and government needs to take this matter seriously. We need a national audit, dating back as far as 1996, with every institution verifying qualifications with Zimsec,” the source said.
Court documents trace the case back to June 2023, when Tsungai High received a consignment of O-Level results for its 2022 candidates. Munatsi, tasked with safekeeping and distribution, allegedly siphoned off 26 certificates and handed them to Mukakati. One of these belonged to a student named Memory Moyo.
Investigators allege the pair altered Memory’s certificate to carry the name Jonathan Mukwenha, who then used it to secure a nursing trainee position at Mpilo in 2023. Mukwenha worked undetected for months and even drew a salary until July this year, when Mpilo forwarded the results to Zimsec for verification.
The courts have also heard other alarming cases. Gurupira from Mbare appeared last week before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele accused of forging a certificate with six O-Level passes. She allegedly studied at Mpilo for nearly three years before being caught. She was released on US$100 bail and will return to court on October 10.
Earlier, Ndege of Murehwa was remanded in custody on charges of using a fake certificate claiming eight passes, including core subjects like Mathematics and Science, despite having only four genuine passes across two sittings. Her counterfeit paper listed fabricated grades such as Agriculture (A), Shona (A), and Mathematics (C).
This scandal follows the March jailing of a fraudster who posed as “Dr Prosper Mpofu.” He ran an illegal practice at Mpilo, treated patients without qualifications, and scammed job seekers with promises of training slots. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Medical experts have warned that the crisis exposes dangerous loopholes in recruitment systems.
“Imagine a bogus nurse dispensing drugs or a fake doctor diagnosing patients? Lives are at stake. Government must urgently conduct a nationwide clean-up of certificates in hospitals, schools, and local authorities,” one insider cautioned.
The revelations have triggered panic among Mpilo trainees, with genuine students now undergoing re-verification. Hospital administrators confirmed they are working with Zimsec to restore public trust.
What began as isolated fraud cases has now ballooned into a national debate on professional integrity and public safety. Meanwhile, police continue to hunt Mukakati, with more arrests expected as investigators trace the network behind the stolen certificates.
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