Harare City Council’s Work and Town Planning chairperson, Councillor Takudzwa Dzumbunu, has been fined US$300 or sentenced to six months in prison for providing false testimony regarding her educational qualifications.
During a recent appearance before the Commission of Inquiry, Dzumbunu claimed to possess a bachelor’s degree but later admitted that she had failed a course and did not graduate.
Initially, Dzumbunu stated that she would present her degree certificates, later claiming they were with her mother. However, under further questioning, she confessed to not completing her degree program. “I thought I was going to get the certificates but I had failed one course and did not graduate,” she explained. She also expressed regret for misleading the Commission, acknowledging that she should have simply stated that she had not yet acquired her degree.
Justice Maphios Cheda, who presided over the proceedings, highlighted the seriousness of her actions, stating that the penalty serves as both punishment and a deterrent for others who might consider providing false evidence, particularly in matters of public interest. He emphasized that the Commission was established by President Mnangagwa to uncover the truth about the operations of the Harare City Council, and Dzumbunu’s conduct undermined this objective.
“It is embarrassing that you appear today without the relevant qualifications, especially after claiming to have them,” Justice Cheda remarked. He noted that her misrepresentations could have implications for her employment based on qualifications she does not possess.
In his ruling, Cheda imposed a fine of US$300 or a six-month prison sentence, with the latter suspended for five years, contingent upon Takudzwa Dzumbunu not committing similar offenses in the future. “This sentence is designed to teach you a lesson,” he stated, reinforcing the conviction’s lasting impact
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