Klosad Clinical Diagnostics Lab, whose staff members were last week exposed by this publication for issuing fake Covid-19 certificates, has been shut down to pave way for full investigations.
The laboratory which is owned by expelled Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo was suspended from operating for an indefinite period to allow the Ministry of Health and Childcare and the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe (MLCSCZ) to complete investigations into the lab’s operations.
The Sunday Mail understands that, in addition to the fake certificates scam, authorities are keen to probe allegations that Klosad was operating without proper registration and qualified staff while its Covid-19 certificates were being authorised by fictitious staff members.
MLCSCZ registrar Ms Agnes Chigora confirmed that the lab had been shut down for “further investigations”.
“Council has recommended suspension of services until finalisation of the ongoing investigations,” she said.
An official privy to the developments revealed that authorities were conducting additional investigations into the rot at Klosad.
“For example, this Nyakuedzwa who was approving the certificates is not even among the employees and is stationed at Chitungwiza General Hospital,” said the source.
“His name was only there on the paper but other people were doing the signing for him.
“The staff on the ground was not adequately trained and they were working without proper supervision.
“The Anesu Nyamugama who was arrested is not even registered as an employee of the lab and some of the names of the people who are said to have signed those papers were not on duty.
“So there are suggestions that the level of corruption at Klosad was high and it could have involved quite a number of people.”
Nyamugama was arrested last week facing fraud charges.
Allegations are that from January 8 to 12, Nyamugama issued two fake negative Covid-19 certificates to The Sunday Mail reporters Harmony Agere and Emmanuel Kafe, thus misrepresenting that they had gone through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
-State Media