By Fanuel Chinowaita
HARARE – Court papers have revealed how two Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) data capturer clerks allegedly manipulated Zimbabwe’s electronic licensing system, enabling hundreds of people—including foreign nationals—to obtain driver’s licences without undergoing mandatory competency tests in a corruption scheme investigators say involved more than US$1 million.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of Tinotenda Maningi and Chrison Chipanda, who appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on 30 July 2026. They were remanded in custody to 4 August 2026 on fraud charges.
In a statement, ZACC said the pair allegedly acted in connivance with Ebenezzer Zvidza and Emmanuel Mushonga, who remain at large, to manipulate the VID’s computerized licensing system.
“The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission confirms the arrest of Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) Data Capturer Clerks, Tinotenda Maningi and Chrison Chipanda, over a fraudulent vehicle licensing scam involving over US$1 million,” the anti-graft body said.
According to ZACC, “the accused allegedly manipulated the VID computerised licensing system to fraudulently issue learner’s licences and Certificates of Competency to approximately 500 individuals who had neither undergone the mandatory competency tests nor met the legal requirements.”
Investigators further allege that the suspects exploited electronic government systems to conceal their activities.
“Investigations revealed that the accused unlawfully accessed and manipulated electronic user accounts belonging to other VID officers to process and authorise fraudulent transactions, thereby concealing their identities and compromising audit trails,” ZACC said.
The commission also alleged that applicants were required to pay bribes instead of official Government fees.
“Instead of directing applicants to pay through official Government channels, the accused allegedly solicited and received bribes ranging from US$200 to over US$500 per applicant,” the statement reads.
ZACC further said investigations revealed that “the accused worked with accomplices at the Central Vehicle Registry to facilitate the fraudulent processing of the documents, with a significant number of beneficiaries reportedly being foreign nationals.”
Court documents filed by the State provide further insight into how the alleged fraud was carried out.
According to court papers, one complainant, Nadia Samson, booked a road test at VID Eastlea in June but failed the examination. She was allegedly referred to Maningi by a friend, who claimed he could help her obtain a driver’s licence without repeating the test.
The State alleges that Maningi demanded US$250, before agreeing to accept US$200 to facilitate the illegal issuance of the licence.
“Nadia Samson was advised that she would have to pay US$250 to arrange the driver’s licence without going through the normal procedure,” the court papers state.
The documents further allege that “Accused 1 asked for Nadia Samson’s personal details and inquired whether she had passed the provisional examination.”
Prosecutors say Chipanda then unlawfully processed official records to create the impression that Samson had successfully completed the licensing process.
“At 13:19 hours, Accused 2 applied for a Certificate of Competency in the name of Nadia Samson without following the proper procedure, which requires payment of the booking fee and submission of the details of the vehicle to be used during the test,” the court papers allege.
The State further alleges that “eight minutes after the application for the Certificate of Competency, a false entry was created using Kudakwashe Mawere’s profile, indicating that Nadia Samson had taken the road test and passed.”
According to prosecutors, another fraudulent electronic entry was then created using a different applicant’s profile to complete the licence application before the licence card was allegedly collected from the Central Vehicle Registry.
The court papers further state that “Accused 1 facilitated the collection of the driver’s licence card from Never Sibanda, who works at the Central Vehicle Registry, and handed over the driver’s licence to Nadia Samson on 25 July 2026 after she had paid a sum of US$200.”
Authorities believe the case is part of a wider corruption network involving officials within the VID and the Central Vehicle Registry. Investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud, identify all beneficiaries and locate the two suspects who remain at large.
The accused remain in custody and are expected to return to the Harare Magistrates’ Court on 4 August 2026. The allegations have not yet been tested in court, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.