‘Clean’ school clerk steals fees to buy toiletries, fined

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A clerk at Makuzeze Primary School in Mangwe District has been ordered to pay $300 fine for stealing school funds that he was collecting for payment of school fees.

In addition, Salani Sibanda (37), was also ordered to pay back $360 which he stole from the school by 30 December.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to 20 counts of theft by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Taurai Manwere last week.

In his defence, Sibanda told the court that he took the money to buy toiletries.

Passing the sentence Mr Manwere lashed out at Sibanda for giving a stupid excuse to justify his actions.

“I am surprised that you would steal $360 so you can just buy toiletries. I thought that maybe you were desperate for money and wanted to buy food for your children or something useful but it seems you just wanted to squander the money,” he said.

Mr Manwere sentenced Sibanda to six months imprisonment of which three were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years. Another three months were further suspended on condition he pays $360 restitution by 30 December.

Mr Manwere also ordered him to pay a $300 fine or spend three months in prison in case of default.

Sibanda had also been accused of burning school books and records but the State withdrew the charge before plea because of lack of evidence.

Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Sibanda was employed as the Makuzeze Primary School clerk and among his duties was receipting all school funds and surrendering the money to the senior teacher.

He said from May to October, Sibanda received money from different pupils and receipted it but did not surrender part of the cash as mandated.

The matter came to light on 2 November after the school headmistress, Ms Lizzie Mpofu advised pupils to bring their school fees receipts as proof of payment after a fire incident which destroyed all school financial records on 31 October.

“Ms Mpofu discovered that there were some receipts which were issued to pupils but the money had not been handed over to the school. A report was made to the police who made investigations leading to the recovery of receipts valued at $360 which Sibanda had receipted but didn’t surrender the money resulting in his arrest,” said Mr Mazorodze.

Sibanda pocketed $20 on 9 May, $80 on 21 September, $40 on 20 October, $10 on 21 October, $30 on 24 October, $80 on 25 October and $100 on 26 October.