By Staff Reporter
A Mutare nurse has been accused of orchestrating a chilling insurance scheme by deliberately registering deceased individuals for life insurance policies before fraudulently collecting death benefits.
Shamiso Esinath Nyamundanda, a 40-year-old registered nurse stationed at Bamba Rural Health Clinic, appeared before Harare Magistrates Court facing three counts of fraud involving US$15,000 from Zimnat Life Assurance.
Prosecutors allege that between August 2022 and July 2025, Nyamundanda systematically identified dead people and fraudulently opened life insurance policies in their names.
She then allegedly filed claims shortly after, posing as a relative of the deceased to receive US$5,000 payouts per policy.
The court heard she supported her claims with forged affidavits bearing her own handwriting and signature, ultimately receiving US$15,000 deposited directly into her personal bank account.
The scheme collapsed when a Zimnat assurance manager noticed irregularities in the documents and alerted police.
Nyamundanda was granted US$300 bail and will return to court on December 9, 2025.
This case highlights growing concerns about insurance fraud in Zimbabwe. In 2024, a Zaka couple was sentenced for faking their daughter’s death to claim funeral benefits from Ecosure, receiving six-month prison sentences with community service.
The couple Rungamirai Machinjike, 27, and Talent Rutindingwe, 33, from Chief Nhema’s area in Zaka lied to Ecosure that their daughter had died and got a letter from the headman and identity documents of her witnesses to substantiate their claim.
The matter was brought to light after Ecosure made investigations to verify if the claim of death was true.
A Gokwe man, Nicholas Madziva (47), was sentenced to an effective 12 months of community service by Gokwe magistrate after he faked his son’s death in an attempt to defraud Ecosure of $12,000.
Another incident involved Knowledge Mponderi (31) from Gokwe North who was sentenced to an effective five months of community service for faking his mother’s death to claim $1,000 from Ecosure.
