By Desire Tshuma
Harare – A Harare man has been sentenced to an effective two-year prison term after defrauding a local healthcare training company of US$69,856 in a bogus United Kingdom employment sponsorship scheme.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe on its 14 July 2026 update,Takunda McDonald Pfende, 27, was convicted by the Harare Magistrates’ Court for defrauding Path Quest Overseas (Pvt) Ltd.
The court heard that between May and July 2023, Pfende falsely claimed he could secure UK Certificates of Sponsorship for healthcare workers. Path Quest, a registered Zimbabwean company that trains healthcare professionals, collected US$5,000 each from 58 clients seeking jobs abroad and transferred a total of US$69,856 to Pfende for the promised documents.
Prosecutors said Pfende failed to deliver the certificates, became evasive, and left the company to refund its clients before the matter was reported to police.
Investigations confirmed that Pfende had no authority to facilitate Certificates of Sponsorship. None of the stolen money has been recovered.
Pfende was sentenced to five years in prison. One year was suspended on condition of good behaviour. A further two years were suspended on condition that he restitutes US$65,665 to Path Quest. He will serve an effective two years.
The NPAZ is urging the public and recruitment agencies to verify credentials, conduct due diligence, and report fraud cases promptly.
The authority said fraudsters are increasingly targeting job seekers with promises of overseas employment and warned people to check with embassies and licensed agencies before making payments.