A Bulawayo man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after defrauding a colleague of US$500 by falsely claiming he could secure employment for her younger brother.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Amukela Nkiwane (54), of Cowdray Park, was convicted of fraud by the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court after he misrepresented his ability to provide a job opportunity despite having no authority to do so.
“The accused person, who was employed at Ingutsheni Hospital, received US$500 from the complainant after falsely representing that he could secure employment for her younger brother,” said the NPAZ.
The prosecution said Simango later discovered that Nkiwane had no capacity or authority to offer jobs, prompting her to report the matter to the police. Investigations subsequently led to Nkiwane’s arrest and his eventual conviction for fraud.
“The complainant later discovered that the accused had no authority to offer employment and reported the matter to the police, resulting in the accused’s arrest and subsequent conviction,” said the prosecuting authority.
The court sentenced Nkiwane to 30 months’ imprisonment, although he will serve an effective 20 months after part of the sentence was suspended under specific conditions.
“Six months of the sentence were suspended on condition that Nkiwane does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. A further four months were suspended on condition that he pays the victim US$500 in restitution,” the prosecution noted.
The prosecution authority warned members of the public against falling victim to fraudulent employment schemes, urging people to verify recruitment processes before making any payments.
“The NPAZ reminds members of the public that obtaining money or property through false pretences is a criminal offence that attracts serious penalties,” the authority said.
The NPAZ urged job seekers to exercise caution when approached with employment offers, particularly where individuals demand payment in exchange for securing positions.
“Individuals are urged to exercise caution when dealing with offers of employment and to verify the authenticity of any recruitment process through the relevant institutions before making any payments,” said the NPAZ.
Authorities continue to warn that fraudulent job schemes remain a concern, with unsuspecting members of the public often losing significant amounts of money to individuals who exploit the high demand for employment opportunities.
