Headmaster runs for dear life, goes AWOL

Richard Muponde
A HEADMASTER at Lubu Secondary School in Binga had to run for his life after parents went berserk, baying for his blood while accusing him of swindling the school of $1 200 part of which he had been tasked to deposit into the school’s account at Binga Centre.
The incident happened two weeks ago at the school which is an annex of Kariangwe High School in the district.

Sources close to the matter told Sunday News that the headmaster, whom they identified as Nkuli, was given the money which had been collected at the school for banking.

The school wanted him to bank the money for accountability purposes and then withdraw it again so that they use it at the school.

Nkuli is said to have taken the money and went to Binga Centre with the “intention” of banking it.
However, while at the centre, instead of banking the money he allegedly withdrew an equivalent amount from the school’s bank account and converted the cash he was given at the school to his own use.

Binga District education officer Mr Edson Masungo confirmed the incident and said his office was still investigating to the matter.

“I received a report of that nature. I went there last week with my team and we are looking at the books to verify and ascertain whether indeed there was any money which was stolen. The headmaster is now back at the school and is conducting his normal duties,” said Mr Masungo.

A source said the offence only came to light after the school’s development association held a meeting and discovered that the money was misappropriated.

Nkuli was reportedly confronted but could not give a satisfactory explanation.
The matter heated up, leading to parents ganging up with the intention to assault him.

“The situation was so tense that Nkuli could have been killed by villagers. They wanted to assault him because he was arrogant. He was only saved by a councillor who was at the meeting who whisked him to safety before things went out of hand,” said the source.

“From that day he’s not coming to school. Parents warned him not to set foot at the school without returning the money. I think he now fears for his life because what happened that day frightened him. He did not anticipate that parents would behave the way they did towards him.”