Police Burst Fake COVID-19 Clearance Certificate Syndicate In Zimbabwe

The police in Zimbabwe have burst a Syndicate that specializes in issuing fake Coronavirus clearance certificate at the border post between the country and Zambia.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said law enforcement agents last week arrested two men who were part of a syndicate selling fake Covid-19 certificates at Chirundu Border Post.

The suspects, who are not medical practitioners, were found with 330 blank stamped fake Covid-19 certificates and testing equipment.

“They were arrested on December 3, 2020, for originating fake Covid-19 certificates for travellers at Chirundu Border Post,” Nyathi said in a statement on Monday.

The syndicates are operating at most of Zimbabwe border posts where they are having a thriving business from desperate locals wishing to cross into neighbouring countries.

They charge about US$20 (R300) to issue a fake certificate to a traveller wishing to cross into Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa or Zambia.

According to Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 health protocols, a traveller requires a valid health certificate that must have been issued not more than 48 hours prior to the date of travel.

The same certificate is required on the other side of the border where the majority of neighbouring countries demand that inbound travellers should have been cleared of Covid-19 at most 72 hours before they travelled.

Genuine clearance certificates cost up to US$85 (around R1 800).