Headman helps woman fake son’s death

A CHIPINGE headman under Chief Mapungwana’s area was last week dragged to court facing charges of fraudulently helping his subject to acquire a death certificate of her live son in a bid to claim funeral benefits from Old Mutual.

Pardon Mundanda appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Sharon Chipanga facing charges of contravening Section 27(2) (a) of the Birth and Death Registration (giving false information for the purpose of registration of death of a person).

Mundanda pleaded guilty to the charge and is awaiting sentence next Monday.

Public Prosecutor, Ms Edith Phiri, told the court that sometimes in 2015 at Midlands State University in Gweru, the complainant, Jonathan Muhlaba, was studying for a Bachelor of Education (History) Degree when he was approached by his half-sister, Esther Maonya who stays with Muhlaba’s mother, Tsitsi Dube in Chipinge. Muhlaba was admitted in hospital.

“She approached him while he was admitted at Gweru PSMAS since he was not feeling well. Maonya told Muhlaba that she was sent by his mother to collect his national identity card as she wanted to use it somewhere. Since Muhlaba did not suspect anything, he just handed over his national identity card to Maonya and she left,” she said.

Ms Phiri said the matter came to light in December 2015 when Muhlaba was job hunting after completing his studies.

“Muhlaba applied for a teaching post in 2016. He visited his mother with the intention of getting his national ID. His mother promised to give him his ID, but in vain.

“At last she opened up to her son that she had used his ID to fraudulently acquire his death certificate. She told him that she had faked his death because she wanted to claim money from Old Mutual funeral policy.

‘‘Dube further said she had tendered her son’s ID card together with his birth certificate when she fraudulently acquired the fake death certificate. Muhlaba was arrested when he approached the Registrar General’s Office in Chipinge with the intention of obtaining a new ID. He revealed what had happened leading to Mundanda’s arrest,’’ she said.

Mundanda said he was not aware that Muhlaba had passed away since his mother had lied to him.

“Your Worship, Muhlaba’s mother, Tsitsi Dube, approached me at my homestead and asked for a confirmation letter that her son had died on August 15, 2015 in Gweru. I followed her instructions without verifying the truth. I am pleading for the court’s forgiveness,’’ said Mundanda.