Two suspects, Patricia Muyambo Magazini and Mandras Muyambiwa, have been arrested in Chipinge for defrauding job seekers of over US$40,000 since 2024.
The pair targeted job hunters in places such as Mutare, Harare, Gutu, Zaka, Beitbridge, and Rusape, tricking them with fake job offers.
Posing as recruitment agents for Mashoko Mission Hospital in Bikita, they managed to deceive many before finally being caught.
Inspector Anos Chindanya, the ZRP Chipinge Urban Officer-in-charge, confirmed the arrest to <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/serial-fraudsters-nabbed-in-us40k-job-scam/">The Manica Post</a>. He said:
<blockquote>
A series of reports at the station, from November 2024 to January 2025, highlighted an increase in fraud cases where perpetrators posed as agents offering assistance in securing jobs as nurses or general hands at Mashoko Mission Hospital in Bikita.
Investigators revealed that multiple complainants’ reports listed the same contact numbers, leading to an investigation into the identities of the users.
The police obtained the suspects’ personal information, location, and communication server details through collaboration with a local service provider.
By triangulating the suspects’ location using boosters, the police tracked them down to Masvingo Province, where upon arrival, encountered the hostile husband of one of the suspects, who was reluctant to cooperate.
After re-contacting the service provider, the police managed to track and apprehend Patricia Muyambo Magazini in Nyika’s Duma location the following day. Her co-accused, Mandras Muyambiwa was arrested in Zaka.
</blockquote>
The suspects were identified by more than 50 victims. During questioning, they admitted to tricking people by claiming to have connections with the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s recruitment team.
They offered jobs as registered general nurses, drivers, and staff nurses, but were only scamming the job seekers. Said Chindanya:
<blockquote>
Magazini confessed to being unemployed and working with Muyambiwa to commit fraud to raise funds for a transportation services start-up. They had set aside US$ 26,000 for this purpose.
An examination of the suspects’ belongings uncovered the SIM cards the complainants had identified as the contact numbers of their swindlers.
</blockquote>
Acting Officer Commanding Police in Chipinge District, Superintendent Godfrey Likalawe added:
<blockquote>
One of the complainants, despite lacking qualifications, managed to convince several church members to send money to the accused via various platforms, including Mukuru, with the promise that their names would appear in The Herald on January 19, 2025.
The accused claimed technicalities would delay the publication of names until January 25, but when this didn’t happen, the complainants reported the matter to the police.
A total of US$ 40,247 was defrauded from all complainants, and the arrest led to the clearance of 100 reported fraud cases. The suspects were taken to court and were remanded in custody.
</blockquote>
One of the victims, Chipo Hlumani from Gaza, Chipinge, shared her experience with one of the two fraudsters. She said:
<blockquote>
I lost money after a prophetess from my church was contacted by Muyambo Magazini, who claimed that she wanted to thank her for spiritual guidance by securing jobs for church members at Mashoko Mission Hospital.
I believed Magazini was a registered agent due to the names and proof of payments she provided, as well as stamped documents from the hospital.
I paid US$540 out of the required US$1 400, but when my child was not called for the January intake, I approached Magazini, whose responses seemed untruthful. I reported the matter to ZRP Chipinge.
After this experience, I advise job seekers to be cautious and visit company offices instead of relying on online accreditation copies without official verification.
</blockquote>
Superintendent Likalawe warned job seekers to be cautious when looking for work. He advised them not to pay for services that have not been provided, especially to people they don’t know or who use anonymous accounts.
He encouraged them to verify and check job postings on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook before making any payments.

Pindula News

Two people in Chipinge were caught tricking job hunters out of $40,000 by offering fake jobs. They pretended to be hiring for a hospital but were lying. The police tracked them down through phone numbers and caught them. The suspects admitted to scamming people to raise money for a business. Many victims lost money to them. One victim shared her story and warned others to be careful. The police advise job seekers to be cautious and verify job offers before paying any money.

Two Arrested For Defrauding Job Seekers Of Over US$40,000

Several young people desperate for work were left screaming in pain and others limping after being stamped on or beaten up by security guards at a Government-organised job event on Wednesday.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) held a Job Fair at Heritage Village, Liberation City in Harare, next to Tynwald Primary School, where thousands of graduates were in attendance.
<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41284999.html">The Irish Examiner</a> reported chaos as job seekers rushed to register for potential vacancies, but no serious injuries were reported.
According to the PSC, thousands of young people in the 19 to 30 year-age group turned up for the fair, holding envelopes with their CVs and college certificates.
They hoped to be registered on a database of job seekers in the PSC and Government ministries.
People stamped on each other in the rush to enter a large hall where the registration was taking place and security guards used batons to restore order, but people still surged forward.
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-267710 size-full" decoding="async" height="608" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jobs-Fair.jpeg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jobs-Fair.jpeg 912w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jobs-Fair-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jobs-Fair-768x512.jpeg 768w" width="912"/>
PSC Chairman Vincent Hungwe said the Job Fair was a pleasant challenge because of the overwhelming number of graduates that came. Yet, their qualifications proved that the country had excess requisite skills enough to serve in all sectors.
Secretary to Service Commissions, Tsitsi Choruma said that the Job Fair served as a timely succession plan to infuse into the Government, young graduates such as doctors, female engineers, etc.
Meanwhile, Commissioner in the Public Service Commission Larry Mavima told reporters that the decision by the Commission to target the 19 to 30-year-old group was driven by the Commission’s desire to encourage qualified youths to serve the Government and further develop their skills early in life.
Zimbabwe has an acute shortage of formal jobs and millions of people eke out a living by vending and other informal activities.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chaos As Job Seekers Stampede For Work At PSC Job Fair

Several job seekers have besieged a Bulawayo-based recruitment agency, Cosmopolitan Eagle Company, demanding refunds after the agent allegedly failed to facilitate overseas jobs and work permits for the applicants in violation of its promises.
Cosmopolitan Eagle Company, operating from Pioneer House in the city, placed advertisements claiming it was dealing in securing jobs and work permits as well as processing all travel documents for job seekers abroad.
Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya from Bulawayo told <a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/job-seekers-up-in-arms-with-recruitment-agent/">B-Metro</a> that he paid more than 1 000 to the recruitment agency but failed to secure the job that had been promised. He said:
<blockquote>
A relative told me about Cosmopolitan Eagle Company saying it was helping people in securing employment in Poland, Germany and Turkey and l became interested before I went to inquire about the company.
I visited the company premises at Pioneer House and met Linah Mugondomukandapi who is the owner and she told me everything about their services and how the process was being done. She assured me that if l didn’t succeed she was going to refund me.
</blockquote>
Ngwenya said in May 2021 he paid US$1 230 to Linah including US$1000 being application fee for a visa and US$230 travel insurance. He said:
<blockquote>
After six months I was informed that my work permit was ready and had to organise money to go to the Polish Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
When l went to the Polish Embassy l was informed that l had a high chance of being denied a visa and I informed the agency about the matter and she advised me to apply.
After applying for the visa l got denied and when l came back home, I asked for a refund from Linah and she started telling me stories.
Just imagine I used US$400 to go to South Africa and back home. I got fed up and Linah had also stopped answering my calls.
It’s really painful that l lost US$1 630 and R1800 to this agent. I trusted this lady and yet she seems heartless considering that things are hard these days.
I still owe people the money that l borrowed and ties have also been broken with friends and family as they are all asking why there is no refund and some are even suspecting that I squandered the money.
</blockquote>
Another victim who declined to be identified told B-Metro that she paid Linah US$920 in April claiming it was for visa processing.
She said Linah’s sister only paid her US$95 last month out of the US$920 she had paid.
Another victim who also requested anonymity said she was swindled of US$1 300 by Linah. She said:
<blockquote>
To this day l have not been paid a cent from the total amount of US$1 300 which l paid to her to facilitate my recruitment abroad.
Linah has also not given me back my passport. When I reported the matter to the police they advised me that it was a civil matter and I’m now planning to sue her.
</blockquote>
When reached for comment by the publication, Linah said it wasn’t her fault that some of her clients were not successful in getting their visas.
She said she was working with her international partners to ensure that all her clients are refunded.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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