Fake Exemption Letter 'Barons' On The Rise
Some “ingenious” people have taken advantage of the current lockdown restrictions to make money by selling fake exemption letters to business people who operate in the country’s central business districts (CBDs).
The fake letter “barons” have a ready market as the stay-at-home order has banned all forms of business activity considered not be essential.
The fake exemption letters are being sold for between US$10 and US$40 depending on one’s industry and occupation of choice.
A beneficiary of the scam told Zim Morning Post that he has not encountered any problem when using the fake letter at security checkpoints. He is quoted as having said:
As you may know, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced what he called essential services, and these guys manufacture letterheads of companies that fall under specialised industries and sell them for at least US$10.
The government imposed a 21-day national lockdown on March 30 which banned all movement considered non-essential in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions were extended by a further two weeks to May 3, in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s guidelines.
