adminTawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
GOVERNMENT auditors have unearthed abuse of funds at Chiredzi Christian College where the school head is said to have connived with teachers and the School Development Committee to blow $150,000 in allowances.
The allowances were dished out as incentives to teachers.
According to the findings of the audit team dispatched to the lowveld school, former acting school head Lovemore Gunguo and an official at the school identified as Victor Zvada pocketed $34,799 and $23,294 in allowances, respectively.
SDC members were also implicated as they pocketed $38,000 in sitting allowances between 2014 and 2016.
SDC chairman Amious Makamure got $7,735, senior teacher Archem Muziro $12,430 while unnamed SDC vice chairman received $6,025.
The report further noted that $2,000 was paid to Gunguo as appreciation for the completion of the construction of a school durawall.
“The school head, the deputy head, heads of department and some teachers continued to be paid allowances/incentives from levies in violation of the Secretary’s Circular Minute Number 6 of 2014 which cancelled payment of incentives to teaching staff during the period under review,” the audit report said.
Other payments were in the form of administration allowances ($24,410), HOD Allowances $7,360, study supervision $7,605, token of appreciation $2,550 and PTCE supervision $7,402 for a total of $49,327.
The report recommended that all the monies which were paid unnecessarily be recovered from the beneficiaries.
It recommended the transfer of Gunguo.
“The former acting head Gunguo, who is currently the acting deputy head, seems to have influence on both the SDC members and the senior teaching staff that were benefiting from the allowances, something which makes it difficult for the current head to implement important changes in how school funds are to be managed. It is therefore in the interest of the school to have Gunguo removed from the post of acting deputy head through a transfer from the school,” further reads the report.
Masvingo Provincial Education Director Zedious Chitiga said: “I can confirm receiving an audit report for Chiredzi Christian College which we called the auditor general to undertake. We are, however, studying the findings and judging the extent of the anomalies. We’ll definitely take action after completion of that excise.”
Online Reporter