adminAbel Zhakata Senior Reporter
THREE accounts clerks have been arrested, while a headmaster is on the run as the ongoing audit exercise in schools continue to unearth massive fraud in which authorities stole thousands of dollars meant for fees and levies.
The audit broom has swept clean Buhera District where rampant embezzlement of funds was detected at Hande High, Madzivire Secondary and Munyira High schools.
A manhunt has since been launched for Munyira High School headmaster, Mr Maganda, who is failing to account for $5 579, while an accounts clerk at the same school is assisting police with investigations over $1 920 he is alleged to have stolen.
Deputy Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda, confirmed the arrest of Jerina Kukasira at Munyira High School.
“Kukasira is currently in police custody over $1 920 she allegedly pocketed. It is alleged that since January 2013 to July this year, the suspect under-invoiced money paid by parents as fees. She would write the exact amount paid by the parent on the top copy of the receipt without putting carbon paper to duplicate the same amount on the copy that remains at the school. As soon as the parent leaves, she would then write a less amount on the school copy. She pocketed the difference,” he said.
Asst Insp Chananda said the head at the school was wanted in connection with close to $6 000 that is missing.
“He is on the run and detectives are looking for him,” he said.
At Hande High School, $12 799 went missing after the accounts clerk allegedly converted it to his own use.
“We have since arrested Peter Madawo who comes from Munyanyi Village under Chief Chimombe. Allegations are that during the period from January 2013 to July this year, the suspect would bank less money than the total cash received. The crime was detected following an audit being done in schools. Of the stolen amount nothing has been recovered to date,” said Asst Insp Chananda.
At Madzivire Secondary School in Murambinda, detectives arrested 42-year-old Gaudencia Chitsike on allegations of stealing $3 386.
“Her modus operandi was similar to Kukasira’s as she would under-invoice money she received and pocketed the difference,” said Insp Chananda.
Manicaland Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, said all those found with dirty hands would be handed over to the police, while the ministry would institute internal disciplinary measures on those implicated.
“At the end of the day we want transparency in the way funds are being handled at schools.
“These arrests are a result of an ongoing audit being carried out countrywide. Currently the team is in Buhera. As for teachers that are implicated in the scandals we will also conduct hearings, but we have a problem with accounts clerks and other supporting staff that are employed by School Development Associations.
“When the team finds out that the fraud is serious they quickly report to the police.
“It is our hope that accountability will prevail at schools in the way funds are being handled. We are in the process of teaching our heads financial management in a bid to equip them with the skills on the best practices in handling money,” he said.
On the fugitive Munyira High School head, Mr Shumba said the district’s education officer was also struggling to locate him.
“We don’t know where he is because the DEO is also failing to locate him,” he said.
The audit team has since covered Mutare, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Nyanga, Mutasa and they are currently in Buhera District.
Early last month Government deployed hundreds of auditors to schools amid reports that headmasters and School Development Committees had embezzled millions of dollars meant for fees and levies.
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