Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
THE trial of former Marlborough Primary School headmistress Chipo Ndoziya, who is accused of concealing from a principal a personal interest in a transaction, failed to get underway as scheduled yesterday.
Ndoziya appeared before Harare regional magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka with her suspected accomplices —Abraham Mudzimu, who is the deputy headmaster, Patricia Gumbo, the teacher in charge, and Rufaro Dhave, the senior teacher.
The matter was remanded Tuesday next week for trial commencement to allow the parties to finalise all pre-trial concerns.
Prosecutor Kudakwashe Muza alleged that in 2023, the quartet came up with a plan to steal from the school.
They formed a company, whose ownership was concealed from their employer, and started selling school uniforms at the school.
They allegedly registered the company, Zimbrough (Pvt) Ltd, where they are all directors.
They opened an account with CBZ Bank.
They started selling school uniforms to parents, using their company. The State alleged that the quartet knew very well that they had not sought authority from their principal, which is the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in accordance with the regulations.
Zimbrough receipts will be produced in court as evidence.
The quartet ensured constant supply of school uniforms to the school even though they had not declared their interests, and would facilitate prompt payments from parents.
Investigations indicated that the quartet, as senior officials at Marlborough Primary Schools and by virtue of being the management at the school, deliberately did not disclose that they were the founders and directors of Zimbrough (Pvt) Ltd and were the direct owners of the uniforms sold at the school.
They allegedly benefitted US$5305 from the transaction.
Mathew Masinge