Gwelo, 37, is facing fraud charges for possessing a fake University of Zimbabwe Bachelor of Studies Honours Degree certificate which he submitted with his application and other qualifications when he applied for the top job at the council.
Gwelo was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody on a US$250 bail to September 30 for a full trial. The state, led by prosecutor Nyasha Chengeta, heard that Gwelo sometime in 2008 applied for a CEO post which had arisen in the local authority, and together with his applications submitted a fake degree with serial numbers 08652.
His name was recommended to the minister of Local Government and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo who approved Gwelo for the top post on January 9, 2009. The matter came to light when the ministry conducted a system audit to authenticate the qualification for senior staff. The ministrys human resources department on September 6 this year, requested the University of Zimbabwe to verify the certificate and the varsity indicated that they have no records for Gwelo in their files.
The matter was reported to police, which led to Gwelos arrest. Investigation by police detectives also indicated that the degree was fake.
Post published in: News