Windhoek
The 19 accused who are charged with obtaining forged qualifications from Zimbabwe will plead to the charges in March. The matter was remanded on Friday in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
The accused are Sofia Nevonga, Regina Nelumbu, Annely Shilunga, Saima Nakathila, Josefina Iita, Benedicta Stefanus, Eliah Kaiko, David Ndemusuunye Shivinga, Monica Itengula, Paulus Ndara, Gregor Mbanze Sikerete, Samuel Samwel Sem, Nghaanekwa Linea Ingavenya, Johanna Sackaria, Shaamena Lossina Ndeshipanda, Fillemon Jatileni, Tyson Pickard and Elmo Mathias.
The accused who are out on bail are part of a group of 29 job seekers arrested in 2014 on suspicion they submitted fake qualifications from bogus colleges in Zimbabwe in their quest to secure jobs.
The matter has been separated as the accused were not arrested all at once. They were arrested in October, November and December 2014.
Sources said that after the arrests the police were looking for 200 other suspects with fake Grade 12 certificates – among them doctors.
Some of the accused allegedley submitted the fake qualifications to several institutions of higher learning for entrance, while nine used their “qualifications” to secure jobs in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and the Windhoek City Police.
Sources said the suspects informed the Namibian Qualifications Authority (NQA) they obtained their qualifications from colleges in Zimbabwe, which upon inquiry turned out to be bogus.
After the incident the NQA warned of fake educational institutions.
Magistrate Justine Asino presided on Friday. Tatelo Lusepani represented the State.