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The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) has issued a stern warning against individuals using fraudulent academic qualifications and titles, cautioning them to desist immediately or face legal consequences, including civil and criminal prosecution.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over the proliferation of unregistered institutions illegally issuing fake degrees, including undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Investigations have so far identified more than 12 such institutions operating unlawfully.
Zimbabwe officially recognises only 21 registered universities and two intergovernmental institutions, and ZIMCHE has directed all unregistered entities to cease operations and withdraw their fraudulent qualifications.
“In this regard, unregistered institutions are unequivocally warned to cease operations immediately and desist from issuing any degrees,” ZIMCHE said in a statement.
The regulatory body also urged individuals who have acquired these fraudulent qualifications to stop using them or risk legal repercussions. Some of the fake institutions have been found to be persistently enrolling students and awarding degrees despite not being registered, a move ZIMCHE has described as blatant defiance of the law.
“Of particular concern is the use of false titles such as ‘Professor’ or ‘Doctor’ by officials from these institutions and by recipients of these dubious qualifications,” ZIMCHE added.
To safeguard the integrity of Zimbabwe’s higher education system, ZIMCHE, in line with the ZIMCHE Act, has launched investigations into the fraudulent activities and pledged to take legal action against all involved.
The council has urged the public to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling in any programme to avoid falling victim to such schemes.
Employers have also been encouraged to authenticate qualifications presented by prospective employees to ensure they meet recognised standards.
The rise of fraudulent institutions has prompted ZIMCHE to caution Zimbabweans against enrolling in unregistered colleges, many of which frequently change locations to evade detection. Some of these institutions are not owned by Zimbabweans and falsely claim affiliations with unaccredited international universities to appear legitimate.
Among the flagged institutions are the International Institute of Philanthropy, Faith in God Ministries International – Goshen International Bible College, Apostolos University, Global University, Carmel Bible Theological Institute, Mount Camel Institute of Business Intelligence, Mount Hermon Theological Seminary, Faith World Bible, African Leadership Institute, Global Shepherds Bible Institute in collaboration with EI Shaddai Theological Seminary, and Reach the World International Bible College.
ZIMCHE has reiterated that any institution not listed among Zimbabwe’s 21 registered universities is operating unlawfully, and degrees issued by such institutions will not be recognised in the country.
The council continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies to clamp down on fraudulent institutions and protect the credibility of Zimbabwe’s higher education system.
