Prisoner Accused of Using Forged Letter to Alter Surname at Harare Central Prison

A 56-year-old man is facing forgery allegations after allegedly submitting a document bearing a forged signature and date stamp while seeking to change the spelling of his surname at Harare Central Prison.

Gesham Mlanzi appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court in connection with the matter.

The complainant is Makowa Matipuwa, a member of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

Prosecutors allege that on May 22, 2026, Mlanzi approached the administration offices at Harare Central Prison seeking to have his surname corrected from "Mlanzi" to "Mlauzi."

According to the State, he submitted a confirmation letter in support of the request. However, prison officials allegedly discovered that while the contents of the letter appeared authentic, the signature of the officer in charge and the official date stamp had been forged.

The document was confiscated and the matter was reported, leading to Mlanzi's arrest.

Investigations are continuing.