DESPERATE villagers in Gweru and Lower Gwelo, the Midlands province, have been left counting their losses after a bogus training organisation allegedly disappeared with about US$4 350 collected from unsuspecting students after offering brief, unaccredited courses.
The organisation, operating under the name Zimbabwe Keys for Success Nurse Aide (ZKFSNA), reportedly conducted training in Vungu constituency without registering or seeking clearance from traditional leaders or local authorities.
According to affected community members, the group lured villagers by offering short courses in Nurse Aide, Early Childhood Development (ECD), Mortuary Science and Pharmacy studies.
About 50 villagers enrolled in the programmes, each paying US$62 for a three-week course.
Students were also required to pay at least US$20 each for compulsory uniforms.
Of the students, 10 were from Gweru, eight from Makepesi and 32 from Maboleni.
Suspicions were raised when the organisers allegedly confiscated all the uniforms at the end of the training programme.
The organisation’s leadership reportedly left Lower Gwelo in February 2026, promising to return the following month for a graduation ceremony and the issuance of certificates.
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They have not returned, leaving victims stranded and demanding intervention.
“They took everything, including our money and the uniforms we paid for, and they did not even give us receipts,” one victim, who requested anonymity, told Southern Eye.
“We thought this was our stepping stone to getting employment, but we were sold a dummy. US$87 is a lot of money to lose in this economy.”
Another victim, Sibongile, who enrolled at the Maboleni training centre, said only 13 of the 32 students managed to raise additional money to travel to Harare to meet the organisation’s director, Tinashe Munemo, in the hope of securing industrial attachment placements.
She alleged that Munemo, instead, took the group to his residence in Rusape, but failed to assist them in obtaining the promised attachments.
“I paid the attachment fee and graduation fee because I desperately needed the certificate. We paid for the attachment, but they still did not show up to give us direction,” she said.
“I realised it was a scam when we went to meet Mr Munemo. He took us to his house in Rusape but did not help us get attachment.
“Only four out of the 13 managed to secure attachment, while the rest returned home empty-handed.
“Yesterday I called Mr Munemo asking about the certificates and graduation, but he told us he would send the certificates by bus. I am still shocked by his response.”
In an interview with NewsDay Weekender, Munemo, the ZKFSNA director, denied any wrongdoing, saying students could not receive certificates before completing their industrial attachment, as this would damage the organisation’s reputation.
He acknowledged that some students had not yet received receipts for payments made during the training.
“They should go for attachment first before they graduate. The problem is the language barrier.
“Some have been calling me and insulting me in Ndebele, which I do not understand. Everything is in order.
“I have their certificates, but they should complete attachment first. Yes, I promised to help secure attachment placements, but the locations may not suit everyone.
“They should each pay an assessment fee of US$20 for us to facilitate the attachments. I cannot go door to door assisting everyone alone. They are not co-operating, and that is the main problem.”
Traditional leaders in Lower Gwelo condemned the organisation for operating without informing local authorities.
Chief Coldwell Bunina said he only became aware of the organisation after villagers reported losing their money.
“Honestly, these people did not seek any form of clearance. I only discovered that they were operating in Lower Gwelo when villagers started reporting the matter to me,” he said.
“I do not even know who their facilitators are because the whole process was never brought to the attention of local leaders.
“Perhaps they thought we would interfere with their plans to deceive villagers. It is unfortunate that they came to take the little that people had and failed to deliver the services they promised.”
Vungu legislator Brown Ndlovu also confirmed that the organisation operated without notifying either community leaders or his office.
"The organisation did not introduce itself to community leaders or my office. It simply went directly into the community to exploit vulnerable people.
“We urge residents to verify the credentials of any training institution with local authorities before parting with their money.”
Ndlovu also warned villagers against enrolling in unverified training programmes that promise quick qualifications without proper accreditation.
