The owner of Destiny Achievers College, Cynthia Gambiza, has been accused of defrauding Ordinary Level students of US$4,000 in Cambridge examination fees, facing a total of seven charges.
Gambiza, aged 49, appeared before Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki last week and was granted bail, with her next court appearance scheduled for today.
According to the prosecution, the alleged fraud began in January 2021 when Rachel Munhenga enrolled her daughter, Gaumuchirai Matsenga, at Destiny Achievers College, located in Glen Forest, north of Harare.
Munhenga had been assured that the institution was an accredited examination center for Cambridge exams, a claim heavily promoted through social media and billboard advertising. This assurance influenced her decision to enroll her daughter at the college for Form One.
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Matsenga attended the school from Form One through to Form Four, during which time she was supposed to sit for her Cambridge exams in 2024. On May 9, 2023, Munhenga paid US$700 for her daughter’s registration in the October-November Cambridge examination session.
However, on September 26, 2024, Munhenga received a message from Gambiza via WhatsApp, stating that her daughter would not be able to take the exams due to incomplete registration. Gambiza attributed the issue to the absence of a national identity document at the time of registration.
Subsequent investigations revealed that this was not an isolated incident, with Cynthia Gambiza reportedly employing similar tactics to deceive other students and their families. The revelations have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the school and its operations.
The case is being handled by State representative Anesu Chirenje.
