Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
ROSELINE BOROMA, the deputy headmistress of Avondale Primary School, has been sentenced to two years in prison for corruption related to the procurement of sports equipment.
The sentence was handed down by Harare regional magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka after a full trial.
Boroma was convicted for corruptly selecting Frammatic Engineering (Pvt) Ltd to supply the school with sports equipment without adhering to proper procurement procedures as outlined in the Procurement Act.
Prosecutor Kudakwashe Muza presented evidence showing that Boroma had ignored established protocols.
As a Government school, Avondale Primary is required to follow specific procurement processes.
Typically, the user department submits a requisition to the Procurement and Finance Departments, which is then approved by the headmaster, the accounting officer for the school.
In this instance, the school’s sports department needed basketball and netball goalposts and the head of the sports department, Ms Shuvai Stella Zhanje, verbally informed Boroma about the requirement.
Instead of following the proper procedures, Boroma directly handpicked Frammatic Engineering to supply the equipment, circumventing necessary approvals.
Frammatic Engineering supplied and installed the basketball and netball equipment at a cost of US$1 780. This was done without any formal requisition from the sports department, leading to confusion and concern among staff.
The matter was eventually reported to the headmistress and the School Development Committee, prompting further investigations and a police report.
The court sentenced Boroma to two years in prison, with one year suspended on the condition of good behaviour, leaving her to serve one effective year in jail. Throughout the trial, Boroma denied the allegations, asserting that she did not unlawfully select the company.
