Staff Reporter

Government has issued a stern warning to the public against fraudsters exploiting the name of the First Lady, Dr Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, and her Office to deceive people with promises of interest-free loans for various projects.

The announcement was made by the Deputy Chief Secretary, Presidential Communications in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba, who emphatically distanced Amai Mnangagwa and her Office from the fraudulent activities being promoted through social media under the guise of 'MicroFinance Auxillia Mnangagwa.'

“This entrapping post ‘purports to grant interest-free loans for projects’ which it claims are associated with the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa,” Charamba highlighted.

Charamba strongly advised the public to disregard and avoid any engagement with such deceitful messages, emphasising the malicious intent of those leveraging social media platforms to perpetrate their scams.

"The public is advised that this is a false and extortionate communication inserted by crooks who use social media for their dirty ends and that it thus should be ignored and shunned," Charamba advised.

In response to the fraudulent activities, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has been notified and tasked to investigate this attempted cybercrime to ensure that those responsible are apprehended and face justice.

"By this press statement, the ZRP is being informed and also directed to investigate this attempted cybercrime so that the culprits behind it are brought to book," the Deputy Chief Secretary declared.

Meanwhile, this cautionary notice serves as a reminder for citizens to remain vigilant and scrutinise the authenticity of any offers or solicitations made in the name of public figures, especially when such proposals appear too good to be true.