Brisk business for exemption letter entrepreneurs
FAKE exemption letters for different reputable companies are being accessed from various printing service providers in Mutare for as low as $20, thereby resulting in many people clandestinely finding their way into the city centre, The Manica Post has established.
Investigations by this newspaper revealed that printing service providers have templates that they use to fill in details of their clients after photocopying the original copies from the respective companies.
Under the ongoing lockdown, only people who work for organisations who offer essential goods and services are exempted from the travel restrictions.
Such holders of exemption letters must produce the documents when asked to do so by law enforcement agents at various checkpoints dotted across the country.
Some people with dubious letters have not been so lucky at the road blocks as law enforcement agents have been able to detect the fake documents.
Last week, National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said due to the increased violations of the Covid-19 regulations and people’s complacency, only people with exemption letters will be allowed to access city centres across the country.
However, it seems people are turning to fake exemption letters to circumvent this requirement.
Different reputable company letterheads are used in the scam, while some of the letters bear signatures of high ranking law enforcement agents.
In Mutare, at least two people were recently arrested for allegedly generating fake Covid-19 lockdown exemptions letters for sale to the public at US$5 each.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa said police detectives confiscated two computers and related accessories from two suspects who were forging the exemptions letters.
Thirty-one-year Rutendo Chatambara of Dangamvura and 39-year-old Ronald Tafadzwa Phiri of Fern Valley were arrested for contravening Section 14 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and possessing articles for criminal use.
The duo was taken to court and was remanded out of custody to August 5 for trial.
One of the bearers of the fake letters said the document has been giving him smooth passage at all roadbocks.
“I got mine from a local printing services provider. He had a template and after photocopying it, he filled in my personal details. He asked me chose my preferred company.
“He had several letterheads. I have never encountered any problems when moving around with it,” he said on condition of anonymity.