by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (ZACC) has warned private and public laboratory centres, which are issuing fake COVID-19 certificates that they are derailing government efforts to contain the pandemic.

In a press statement yesterday, ZACC revealed that it has since dispatched a team to probe the allegations with a view to bring offenders to book.

“Following recent press reports of a scam involving the issuance of fake COVID-19 test results by a local private laboratory testing centre, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has received reports implicating other testing centres.

“The Commission is highly concerned that this scam seems to be widespread and is derailing Government efforts to contain the pandemic. A ZACC crack team has been put in place to probe these reports in order to swiftly bring the culprits to book,” reads part of the statement.

In the statement, ZACC Spokesperson John Makamure says the Commission strongly warns the perpetrators of this corrupt practice that the long arm of the law will descend heavily on them.

Relatedly, there are reports of widespread theft of Protective Personal Equipment (PPEs) from Government health institutions and selling of the stuff on the black market.

The Commission warned that it is closing in on the culprits who they said will soon be arraigned before the courts of law.

Recently, a private laboratory Klosad Clinical Diagnostics Lab, reportedly owned by former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo, was suspended, accused of issuing fake COVID-19 certificates to international travellers without them going through testing processes.

Culprits from the Lab allegedly produced the COVID-19 certificates at a price of US$45 each instead of the recommended US$65 charged by most registered institutions for a legitimate test that is a prerequisite for international travel.

As at 26 January 2021, the country had recorded a total of 32004 positive cases, 23413 recoveries and 1103 deaths.