Bursar steals $80 000

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A bursar at Makomo Primary School in Epworth allegedly connived with the school’s former headmistress and her deputy to steal more than $80 000 from the school.

According to the State, Ruth Ngunda (40), the bursar, was the mastermind of the offence and the school’s committee chairman was also involved.

Ngunda yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with fraud and was remanded to May 19 on $100 bail.

Prosecutor Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo said Ngunda was the custodian of the school’s financial books and was responsible for receiving and banking funds.

He alleged that from January to December last year, Ngunda connived with Angeline Make, Spiwe Murota, Loreta Mazemo and Shadreck Nkani and hatched a plan to steal from the school.

They reportedly siphoned $88 260,43 from the school funds and converted it to their own use.

In a bid to conceal the offence, Ngunda and her accomplices manufactured fake receipts, altered invoices, quotations and payment vouchers to make it appear as if the money was used for school development, the court heard.

The offence came to light when a new School Development Committee team led by Mr Peter Mudzengerere was ushered into office in February this year.

Mr Mudzengerere and his team discovered anomalies after going through the records.

In a separate case, Warren Park High School allegedly lost $21 683 to a member of the School Development Committee.

Mavis Mashange (34), who was the SDC’s vice chairperson, was the signatory to the school’s bank account. Mashange yesterday appeared before Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with fraud.

She was remanded to May 19 on $100 bail.