Harare Man Jailed Over US$69,856 UK Healthcare Jobs Sponsorship Scam

By Percy Nhara | Southerton Business Times

HARARE – A 27-year-old Harare man has been sentenced to an effective two years in prison after defrauding a Zimbabwean healthcare training company of US$69,856 through a fraudulent United Kingdom Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) scheme.

Takunda McDonald Pfende pleaded guilty to fraud after falsely claiming he could secure UK Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for healthcare professionals seeking employment in Britain.

According to prosecutors, the offence occurred between May and July 2023, when Pfende misrepresented to Path Quest Overseas (Pvt) Ltd, a Zimbabwean company that trains healthcare workers for overseas employment, that he had the capacity to obtain legitimate UK sponsorship certificates.

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic reference number issued by a UK employer licensed by the Home Office. The certificate is a mandatory requirement for overseas workers applying for a UK Health and Care Worker visa, and can only be issued by employers holding a valid sponsorship licence.

The court heard that, acting on Pfende's representations, Path Quest Overseas collected US$5,000 from each of 58 clients intending to work in the United Kingdom before transferring a total of US$69,856 to him. However, after receiving the money, Pfende allegedly became evasive and failed to deliver the promised sponsorship certificates. Unable to secure the promised opportunities, the company reimbursed affected clients before reporting the matter to police.

The court sentenced Pfende to five years' imprisonment. One year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while a further two years were suspended on condition that he pays US$65,665 in restitution to the complainant. He will therefore serve an effective two-year custodial sentence.

The case reflects a broader pattern of Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fraud targeting Zimbabweans seeking employment in Britain's healthcare sector. Demand for UK care jobs has risen significantly in recent years, creating opportunities for fraudsters to exploit desperate job seekers with false promises of sponsorship and employment. The UK Government has also tightened oversight of the care sector following widespread abuse of the sponsorship system.

According to the UK Home Office, more than 470 care-sector sponsor licences were revoked between July 2022 and December 2024, affecting over 39,000 workers. Authorities cited concerns including labour exploitation, debt bondage, non-compliance with immigration rules and visa fraud. The Home Office has repeatedly warned prospective migrant workers to verify that employers are licensed sponsors before paying recruitment or placement fees. Zimbabwean authorities have also urged job seekers to use registered recruitment agencies and to verify overseas employment offers before making any payments.

UK Certificate of Sponsorship fraud Zimbabwe