Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent
A 43-year-old Zengeza man has been arrested for allegedly masterminding a fraudulent insurance scheme involving counterfeit COMESA yellow cards.
Simbirai Nidza appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts facing charges of fraud. The complainant in the matter is the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ), represented by Vengai Vincent Kambanga, manager of the Zimbabwe Insurance Crimes Bureau—an investigative unit under ICZ.
According to the State, a joint operation by the ICZ and the Zimbabwe Republic Police was conducted in April to enforce compliance on foreign-registered motor vehicles using COMESA yellow cards—a third-party regional insurance required in member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
The operation revealed that 22 trucks belonging to C-Time Transport, based in Beira, Mozambique, were using fake COMESA yellow cards. This discovery triggered a full-scale investigation.
It was established that all 22 fraudulent cards were issued at Forbes Border Post by one Godwin Mukodza, who claimed he obtained them from Nidza. Mukodza further alleged that Nidza worked in collaboration with Emily Masenga, who is already on remand. Masenga purported to be an agent of Tristar Insurance Company, formerly located at 3 Harare Drive, Gunhill, Harare.
However, investigations revealed that Tristar Insurance is no longer operational in Zimbabwe.
Masenga was arrested on May 10 by CID Homicide detectives and implicated Nidza as the brains behind the scam. Detectives later apprehended Nidza at Leisure Centre in Chitungwiza on June 12, 2025.
The scam reportedly cost the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe US$5,800. None of the money has been recovered.
Nidza is set to return to court on June 18, 2025, when his case will be merged with Masenga’s.
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