CLAIM: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS. We are delighted to announce approval of $450M grant from the World Bank. This is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, traders and SMEs. This grant is targeting to boost entrepreneurship, innovation, investment, and trade in the country.
SOURCE: Facebook
VERDICT: FALSE
The government of Zimbabwe is not offering any grants as claimed by a post sent by a Hon. Mthuli Ncube account on Facebook. The post on September 30th reads.
“CALL FOR APPLICATIONS. We are delighted to announce approval of $450M grant from the World Bank. This is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, traders and SMEs. This grant is targeting to boost entrepreneurship, innovation, investment, and trade in the country. In collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), we are calling for grant applications to drive positive change in our country. Interested applicants from all sectors are invited to learn more through the link.”
The link takes one straight to a portal where one is asked to fill in their personal details for the grant application to be processed.
In an interview, the Permanent Secretary for the Finance ministry, George Guvamatanga, rubbished the post and said it’s a hoax.
“This is not true, when was it posted? The ministry is not offering any grants for now,” said Guvamatanga.
Here are some of the red flags showing that the post is a scam.
There are only 148 followers on that Facebook page.
- Only three posts have ben posted on that page.
- No state paper, radio or television stations have published or ran a story on the grant.
- There is no such announcement on the finance ministry’s website.
- The advertisement is only on Facebook not on other social media platforms.
- Government ministries advertise on state owned media.
- Another similar post was sent on the same page and it has since been deleted.
Conclusion
The government is not offering any such grant at the moment. The post circulating on Facebook is a scam.
