HARARE, Jul 14 (NewsDay Live) - A 27-year-old Harare man has been sentenced to an effective two-year prison term for defrauding a Zimbabwean healthcare training company of US$69,856 through a fake United Kingdom employment sponsorship scheme
Takunda McDonald Pfende, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to defrauding Path Quest Overseas (Pvt) Ltd, a Zimbabwean company that trains healthcare professionals for overseas employment.
Prosecutors told the court that sometime between May and July 2023, Pfende misrepresented to Path Quest Overseas that he was able to secure United Kingdom Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for healthcare workers. A CoS is a reference number issued by a licensed UK employer to an overseas worker before they can apply for a health and care visa. Only employers holding a valid sponsorship licence issued by the UK Home Office can legally issue a CoS.
Acting on the misrepresentations, the company collected US$5,000 from each of its 58 clients and cumulatively transferred almost US$70,000 to Pfende
The court heard that after receiving the money, Pfende became evasive forcing the company to reimburse its clients before reporting the matter to the police.
Pfende was sentenced to five years in prison, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour. A further two years were suspended on condition that he pays restitution of US$65,665, leaving an effective custodial sentence of two years.
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The case is part of a widening pattern of CoS fraud in Zimbabwe, which authorities and international journalists have documented extensively since 2023.
The broader CoS fraud crisis is being driven by surging demand from Zimbabweans seeking healthcare employment in the United Kingdom.
The UK government has revoked more than 470 sponsor licences in the care sector between July 2022 and December 2024, affecting more than 39,000 workers, many of whom were linked to exploitation, debt bondage, and visa fraud.