BIRMINGHAM, UK – Shockwaves are hitting the Zimbabwean community in the UK after Tawanda Ncube and his wife Melody Ncube, a well-known couple in Birmingham’s diaspora circles, were arrested in connection with an alleged £250,000 care home visa scam.
According to UK immigration officials, the couple is accused of charging up to £12,000 per person to arrange fake sponsorships for care home jobs that never existed.
The alleged scheme reportedly ran for nearly two years, with victims from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Malawi paying huge sums in hopes of securing legal work in the UK. Instead, many were left stranded with expired visas, unable to work, and in some cases, facing deportation.
Early on Tuesday morning, police raided the couple’s detached home in the Edgbaston area, seizing two Range Rovers, a BMW X6, luxury handbags, and over £80,000 in cash.
“They were living like royalty,” said neighbor Angela Moyo. “We always wondered how they could afford it. Every weekend there was a new car in the driveway.”
Social media has erupted with anger, with many Zimbabweans in the UK calling the alleged scam “a betrayal of trust” that has tarnished the image of hardworking migrants. Hashtags like #CareHomeScam, #BirminghamBust, and #NcubeFraud are now trending among diaspora groups.
UK authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests could follow as they trace the money trail through multiple bank accounts in the UK and Zimbabwe.
For now, Tawanda and Melody Ncube remain in police custody, while hundreds of alleged victims demand justice and refunds.
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