Nyasha Gwazemba, who once posed as a medical doctor in Bulawayo, has reemerged in the United Kingdom and is now at the center of a fresh job scam targeting desperate job seekers from his home country. Gwazemba, previously arrested in Zimbabwe for orchestrating a fake visa operation, is accused of continuing his fraudulent activities abroad — this time using the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) as bait.
Gwazemba, known for preying on vulnerable individuals hoping to migrate to the UK for employment, is accused of scamming Zimbabwean families under the pretense of offering legal UK work sponsorship. According to reports from victims, he promises to secure the much-needed CoS documents — which are a critical requirement for non-UK citizens seeking skilled employment in the UK — in exchange for substantial sums of money.
One family, speaking anonymously for fear of further retaliation, revealed that they paid Gwazemba £700 to a UK bank account and an additional US$1,700 to his mother in Zimbabwe, all in hopes of securing a CoS for their daughter. However, once the payments were made, communication with Gwazemba became sporadic before ceasing altogether.
This latest case bears striking resemblance to Gwazemba’s previous scams in 2022, when he posed as a UK-based medical doctor in Bulawayo and charged hopeful migrants up to US$600 for bogus UK visa services. One of his earlier victims lost US$500, which led to a sting operation where Gwazemba was arrested at a service station in Gwabalanda. Despite initial media coverage and public outrage, Gwazemba managed to evade prosecution, reportedly leveraging connections within local law enforcement to avoid conviction.
Now in the UK, it appears Nyasha Gwazemba has taken his fraudulent operations to a new level. When confronted by recent victims, he initially denied knowing them, saying, “I don’t know that person.” But when shown evidence of a bank transfer linked to his account, he ended the call and has since ignored all follow-up attempts.
Doctor Resurfaces in UK: Nyasha Gwazemba Accused of Scamming Job Seekers with Fake CoS Promises
British authorities, particularly the UK Home Office, have issued repeated warnings about rising visa and sponsorship scams targeting foreign nationals. A spokesperson from the department stated:
“The public should be extremely cautious of individuals claiming to offer Certificates of Sponsorship or guaranteed UK employment. These are often scams targeting people’s hopes for a better future. Only official and licensed sponsors can legally issue a CoS, and we strongly advise against using unofficial channels.”
Within the Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK, Nyasha Gwazemba’s name has again become infamous. Community leaders have expressed deep concern that his fraudulent activities are not only hurting innocent families financially but also damaging trust within migrant networks. Calls are growing for a full investigation into whether Gwazemba is acting alone or as part of a broader syndicate exploiting the economic desperation of many Zimbabweans.
The UK’s Action Fraud, the national center for reporting cybercrime and scams, has urged victims to report any suspicious activity or financial loss connected to job offers involving Certificates of Sponsorship. Reports can be submitted via their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk. Zimbabwean authorities have echoed similar sentiments, urging job seekers to thoroughly verify any overseas job offers through official recruitment channels and avoid sending money to individuals or unaccredited agents.
Back in Zimbabwe, the case has reignited concerns about the ease with which known fraudsters are able to continue their schemes internationally. Some are calling for better cross-border cooperation between Zimbabwean and UK law enforcement to prevent criminals like Nyasha Gwazemba from repeating their offences abroad. There are also growing demands for a public awareness campaign that warns prospective migrants of the dangers posed by fake agents offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities.
As of now, Nyasha Gwazemba remains at large in the United Kingdom. Despite mounting evidence of repeated fraudulent activity and growing pressure from victims, no official charges have been filed in the UK. His continued evasion raises pressing questions about loopholes in both countries’ immigration and law enforcement systems.
For Zimbabweans abroad and at home, the story of Nyasha Gwazemba serves as a grim reminder: not every opportunity is genuine, and misplaced trust can come at a devastating cost.
