The Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 40-year-old man, Promise Banda, to 18 months in prison after he was found guilty of insurance fraud. Four months of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behavior, leaving him with an effective 14 months to serve.
According to the State, on 29 July 2025, Banda misrepresented to Ecosure Insurance Company, under Econet Wireless Zvishavane, that his daughter, named as Chipo Enia Banda, had died.
Investigations later revealed that Banda had forged a Child Health Card. He altered the document to create details of a fictitious dependent who never existed. Using the falsified records, he went on to obtain burial order number 526/25 from the Zvishavane District Registrar’s Office.
Armed with the burial order, Banda submitted an online claim to Ecosure Insurance. He sought to receive US$6,250.00 in death benefits, claiming it was for the burial of his supposed child.
The fraud was uncovered when authorities cross-checked the submitted details. It was confirmed that the named beneficiary, Chipo Enia Banda, was fictitious. Officials concluded that Banda had acted deliberately with the intention to defraud the insurance company.
In court, it was noted that such fraudulent activities directly undermine trust in financial and insurance institutions. The magistrate stated that these schemes are deliberate attacks that erode confidence in systems designed to assist people in times of genuine need.
The court emphasized that Banda’s actions were premeditated and carried out with the full intention of unlawfully benefitting from money that was not due to him. As a result, he was convicted of fraud and handed the custodial sentence.
The ruling serves as a reminder that insurance fraud remains a serious offence with severe consequences for those who attempt it.
