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Melissa Chekwa
THE headmaster of Dinyane High School in Tsholotsho is being investigated by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education following accusations that he allegedly embezzled school funds amounting to R5 000.
The headmaster, Thabani Nkomo, is reported to have skimmed money from 10 pupils out of more than 80 who had paid R500 each for a trip to Masvingo set for the August holidays that was organised during the first term.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the matter was exposed by the School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson, July Moyo, whose confirmation was needed in order to deposit the money into their school account after the discontinuation of the multi-currency system in the country.
“The books brought by the school bursar for us to sign were not tallying with those brought by the clerk. The bursar recorded that 88 children had paid while the clerk reported that 98 children had paid for the trip,” said the chairperson in a separate interview.
Moyo allegedly asked for an explanation from the head and his bursar before he could sign anything. The duo reportedly said that they used the unaccounted money to buy fuel for the trip.
“They didn’t record the other 10 pupils but Nkomo went on to deposit the money into his personal account claiming it was fuel money which they didn’t even report to the committee,” said the chairperson.
Moyo then asked the headmaster to account for everything by showing them bank statements of the money they used and also tasked the head to go and deposit the remaining money at the bank and also produce the statements.
“He didn’t produce any bank statements to us on our next meeting but rather gave an invalid excuse that we couldn’t understand. I suspect he went to money changers and zipped in the money to our school account to cover his arrears,” Moyo alleged.
Moyo said at that point they saw that they were being duped and they quickly went to report the matter to the ministry.
The Matabeleland North provincial education director Jabulani Mpofu confirmed that they were investigating the headmaster of Dinyane High School over alleged embezzlement funds.
“We have carried out an audit at the school and passed the matter to the police so I cannot say much because it is still under investigations,” said Mpofu.
Moyo told B-Metro that when an audit report was released, the bursar immediately resigned from the school.
At the moment, the pupils don’t know whether they will continue with their trip or have their money reimbursed.
“The head has been telling students that the money paid for the trip will be directed to their school fees. Where has that ever been done? What about parents who have paid for the full year?” said Moyo.
Online Reporter