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Nyore Madzianike
The director of Findale Academy located in Mabvuku, Harare, who allegedly squandered examination fees for 34 students from his unregistered school, has been freed on US$500 bail.
Rutendo Zivanai (35), who was not asked to plead to the charges, was also ordered to report every Friday at Mabvuku police station as part of bail conditions.
He appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi charged with running an unregistered school and fraud with an alternative charge of theft of trust property.
The State represented by Mr Rufaro Chonzi, through the investigating officer Detective Constable Hardlife Kamusupayi, had opposed granting of bail to Zivanai saying he was a flight risk.
Detective Constable Kamusupayi also told the court that Zivanai was likely to interfere with witnesses.
Zivanai, through his lawyer Mr Desire Chidanire Mupudzi, told the court that he was not a flight risk as he presented himself to the police.
He said there were no signs to show that he intends to flee once freed on bail, suggesting that stringent bail conditions may allay State’s fears.
It is alleged that sometime in January 2017, Zivanai established a school in Eastvile Phase 6 where he started enrolling students.
He started running the school without registering it with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as required by the law.
Each student allegedly paid US$25 in centre fee, US$24 for examination registration per subject and US$25 for Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA).
Zivanai allegedly converted all the US$US$6 908 into his personal use.
Online Reporter