Glaudina Primary School head charged with procurement violations

Prosper Dembedza-Herald Correspondent

The headmaster of Glaudina Council Primary School Mezah Mazambiri, has appeared in court on allegations of contravening the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education procurement procedures.

He was facing criminal abuse of office charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, who freed him on US$200 bail.

Mazambiri is the accounting officer of the school and is accountable for the procurement of all goods and services at the school.

Glaudina Council Primary School is a satellite school under Kuwadzana 8 Council Primary School.

All the procurement of goods and services at the said school is determined by the value of goods or services to be procured, which then results in an appropriate choice of procurement method being adopted.

The court heard that sometime in May 2023, Glaudina Council Primary School intended to engage a funeral company to provide funeral cover for pupils at the school.

The accused hand-picked Moonlight Funeral Assurance to offer cover for the students, instead of following the laid-down procurement procedures.

Based on the school’s enrolment of 1 525 pupils, with each pupil paying US$5 per term for a cover the total amount that was supposed to be paid by pupils was US$7 625 and this required the school to go to tender to procure the said services.

Mazambiri acted contrary to or inconsistent with his duties as Public Officer by failing to adhere to Procedures of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets.