Four individuals have been arrested after NUST graduation invitation cards fraud. Carol Tinotenda Makadzange (28), Ike Marcus Chinyuku (26), Rudo Joyce Kavande (27), and Mqondisi Mlilo (27) have been found guilty by the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court for their roles in a plot involving forged invitation cards for the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) ceremony.
The group was apprehended on the 3rd of October 2025, after their activities aroused suspicion during the university’s celebratory event. They faced formal charges of possessing articles for criminal use, specifically fake cards designed to deceive parents and guardians.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) detailed how the conspiracy unfolded. The court heard that the four accused collaborated to produce and then sell the counterfeit passes to the public. Their operation began to crumble when an undercover operative successfully bought a fraudulent card from Makadzange for US$10 .
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This transaction provided the crucial evidence needed, and Makadzange’s subsequent testimony led investigators to her accomplices. A search of their premises yielded a treasure trove of evidence, including 197 fake invitation cards ready for sale.
A Lucrative Racket Uncovered
The evidence presented painted a picture of a surprisingly profitable illegal enterprise. Alongside the stack of counterfeit cards, authorities confiscated US$310 and ZAR 700 in cash, believed to be the direct proceeds of their illicit sales. Perhaps most damningly, officials also seized the very tool used to create the forgeries: a desktop computer.
This find confirmed the organised nature of the scam, moving beyond simple possession to active production. The magistrate handed down a sentence of a US$350 fine for each convict, with a seven-month prison term looming should they fail to pay. An additional three-month imprisonment sentence was suspended for a period of five years.
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All the seized property, including the fake cards, the cash, and the computer, was ordered forfeited to the State. The NPAZ issued a stern reminder about the importance of protecting academic milestones from criminal interference. A representative stated,
“Academic events and institutions must be protected from fraudsters who prey on public excitement.”
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The post Four Arrested Over NUST Graduation Invitation Cards Fraud appeared first on iHarare News.
