Bail denied for officials behind passport scandal

Several officials from the Registrar General’s Department in Zimbabwe have been denied bail after being accused of facilitating the illegal processing of passports for Cameroonian nationals. The officials, who were arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office, are alleged to have used fraudulent means to issue the passports.

Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, in her ruling, emphasized that the State had a strong case, citing CCTV footage that implicated the accused officials.

According to the footage, the officials were seen escorting the Cameroonians through the department’s offices. Gofa noted that given Zimbabwe’s porous borders, there was a high risk of the accused fleeing the country if granted bail.

“The accused are facing a very serious offence of connivance and failed in their duties by not verifying the documents presented by the foreigners,” Gofa said. She also dismissed the defense’s argument that the CCTV footage lacked audio, stating that the visuals alone provided sufficient evidence in favor of the State.

The State’s case centers on an incident that occurred on September 17 when the Registrar General’s department processed passports for the Cameroonians. The foreigners were later arrested at the Beitbridge border post by Zimbabwean immigration officers as they attempted to cross into South Africa.

Their inability to respond to questions in Shona raised suspicions, leading to their arrest. The Cameroonians reportedly implicated the RG’s Office officials in the scheme.

The case has been postponed to October 16, with routine remand pending the finalization of investigations.