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Maxwell Ndlovu (51), of Sikhwehle Village in Gomoza area of Lupane District pleaded guilty to theft as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 before Lupane resident provincial magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba.
Three years of his sentence were suspended on condition that he pays back the money he stole by 28 August this year.
The head of the school, Mr Tendai Nzura, told the court that the school authorities, with the school development committee members, had to run around and managed to raise the money and have since paid it to the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) so that the 66 candidates could write the examinations.
All the affected candidates and their parents as well as guardians have been informed of the development.
In passing sentence, Mr Gwazemba said what made Ndlovu’s case bad was that he nearly delayed the education of the candidates by stealing their examination fees.
The court also said he stole out of greed and not need.
The prosecutor, Mr Sanders Sibanda, told the court that Ndlovu was formerly employed at Vulindlela Secondary School, Lupane, in Matabeleland North Province before being transferred to be deputy headmaster for Sibambene.
Between 1 March and 10 May this year, Ndlovu received a total of $3 060 from 66 candidates who intended to sit for this year’s November examinations.
Ndlovu forwarded scanner sheets with the candidates’ names to Zimsec and did not deposit the examination fees into the exami-nation body’s Standard Chartered account.
He converted the money to his own use.
The offence came to light when Zimsec discovered that the examination fees had not been deposited.
An inquiry was carried out with the Lupane District Education Office, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
Online Reporter