Two individuals, Brian Veririzhe and Thamsanqa Moyo, were recently arrested for allegedly operating a sophisticated identity card forgery racket at the Umguza Civil Registry Department in Bulawayo. The arrests were made possible by a detailed exposé by the Zimpapers Investigations Desk, which alerted authorities to the suspected fraud operation.

According to police, Veririzhe and Moyo offered to assist a woman, Buhle Sibanda, in replacing her lost national identity card for a fee. They allegedly used mobile phone and computer equipment to produce a counterfeit national identity document bearing Sibanda’s image. However, a vigilant registry officer noticed irregularities on the ID and raised an alert, leading to the arrest of Veririzhe and Moyo.

Investigations revealed that Veririzhe worked for a company contracted to digitize systems for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. The police have charged Veririzhe and Moyo with fraud and forgery. Buhle Sibanda is still at large, and the police are appealing for information on her whereabouts.

This incident highlights the importance of vigilance and cooperation between authorities and the public in preventing and combating identity document forgery. The Zimbabwe Republic Police are urging members of the public to report any suspicious activities involving official documentation.

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