Staff at two public hospitals and laboratories are charging between US$20 and US$40 to corruptly issue fake Covid-19 certificates to individuals, who need them for international travel, without conducting tests.
The corrupt syndicates at Chitungwiza Hospital and Harare’s
Sally Mugabe Hospital involve laboratory staff, nurses and security guards at
health facilities who then split the bribes.
Most institutions charge around US$65 for the required PCR
test for Covid-19, a test that is required within 48 hours before leaving the
country by road or air.
But to avoid the inconvenience or cut costs those wishing
to cross the borders have resorted to paying US$20 bribes to health staff in
order to be issued with a fraudulent certificate showing they tested negative
to Covid-19.
According to the Zimbabwean regulations following World
Health Organisation guidelines, travellers must produce a PCR Covid-19
clearance certificate issued by a recognised health facility within 48 hours
before leaving the country.
Cross-border traders, job-seekers and others desperate for
cheaper certificates are the major clients of the corrupt syndicates. The
Herald recently got a tip-off and embarked on a week-long investigation to
expose the rot.
As part of the investigation, two reporters were deployed
at Chitungwiza Central Hospital and Sally Mugabe Hospital where they found that
corrupt syndicates were ready to issue certificates.
Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said
those fingered in the illicit deals will face the full wrath of the law. “I am
now liaising with the permanentsecretary so that we start conducting
investigations.”
At Chitungwiza Hospital, the reporter paid US$20 and was
issued with a laboratory report certifying that he had tested negative to
Covid-19 when no samples had been taken from him. Initially, he was asked to
pay US$25 but the bribe was cut to US$20 after bargaining.
The reporter was introduced to the syndicate by some
employees at the hospital and the “greedy” slow-witted team never bothered to
ask how the reporter got to know of the service.
He advised the syndicate of his immediate plans to leave
the country on a work trip before asking for a Covid-19 certificate.
On Thursday visitors entering Chitungwiza Central Hospital
were using a small gate where like anyone else, the reporter had a temperature
test. The temperature read 36,4 degrees Celsius.
The reporter then proceeded to the reception where he met a
woman student nurse whom he had been referred to.
“We charge US$25 for a PCR Covid-19 clearance certificate
and the process takes less than 10 minutes,” said the student nurse. However,
the reporter bargained for a lesser bribe, until the nurse reduced the figure
to US$20.
They proceeded to the hospital’s laboratory where they met
an unidentified tall male laboratory technician, who took over from the nurse.
“Let me get you a form so that you quickly fill in your personal details. From the US$20 that you have, give me US$10 so that I give the lady who has the date stamp.
“If you are not in a hurry, I will steal the stamp during
lunchtime but if you are in a rush, we will just give her the US$10,” he said. The reporter then acceded to pay the US$10
which was handed over to the laboratory technician.
He then went into the laboratory where he came out with an
existing template used at the institution. A copy of the fake Covid-19 test
certificate issued to the Herald reporter at Chitungwiza Central Hospital last
week.
They doctored the template by including the reporter’s
name, date of birth and other particulars.
Interestingly, the Covid-19 certificate was issued in five
minutes despite the fact that the normal PCR test takes at least two hours.
After the certificate was produced the syndicate then
demanded the remaining US$10, which was also secretly handed over to the
student nurse.
However, the student nurse started pressing for an extra
US$5 saying the one who stamped wanted extra cash.
The other reporter deployed at Sally Mugabe Hospital in
Harare met a nurse who explained to him that the institution was only testing
hospital staff.
“We do not test outsiders. We only offer the service to
hospital staff. My advice is for you to go to private health centres who offer
that service to all,” she said, quite correctly and properly.
But the reporter then went to the hospital laboratories
where a male security guard referred him to the offices on the first floor of
the building. On the first floor of the said building, the reporter met one of
the officials and a conversation began.
Asked the reporter, “Sir I am looking for a Covid-19
certificate which is required if one wants to visit outside Zimbabwe. I have
been referred to this building. Can you help on how I can obtain one?’’ The
official in his response said they are not offering the service to outsiders
and referred the reporter to clinics for the service.
“You can go to any clinic and they will send the sample
here for processing. But it takes time. When do you intend to leave the
country?”
After some minutes the official said, “Okay, take my
contact number so we can communicate on WhatsApp. Just save my name as Fidza,”
said the official before walking away.
On WhatsApp, the reporter was furnished with the number of
the person who could assist (0788242230). The reporter dialled the number and
talked to a man who did not disclose his name.
However, a check with the number’s Ecocash account showed
the name of the account holder as Mathias Hlomayi. WhatsApp chats between the
reporter and the man show that the reporter was charged US$40.
He unsuccessfully negotiated for the reduction of the bribe. The man, however, accepted a payment plan whereby he would get US$30 with the balance expected in a few days.
The reporter was asked to send his details on WhatsApp to
enable processing of the certificate. He was asked to send his name, surname
and date of birth.
However, the writer could not pursue the case considering
that he had gathered enough proof through the WhatsApp chats. The man claimed
to be an employee of the National Microbiological Testing Centre.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi urged members of the public to report such issues.
“Issues like that should be reported to the police so that
investigations can be conducted,” he said.
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