adminMasvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO provincial education director Mr Gilbert Chademana has been relieved of his duties over the alleged abuse of School Rehabilitation Grant involving $297 893. The money was reportedly meant to benefit 20 schools in the province.Masvingo deputy provincial education director Mr Andrew Chikwange confirmed the development.
“I can confirm that Mr Chademana has been served with the letter but I am not in a position to give further details. You can ask Mr Chademana himself,” said Mr Chikwange.
Sources said Mr Chademana was accused of inflating prices, flouting tender procedures and awarding contracts to individuals mostly relatives and friends without tax certificates as per the requirement.
He was also accused of supplying sub-standard material and paying for work not done.
The alleged scam was uncovered by a Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture audit carried out last year.
Contacted for comment, Mr Chademana confirmed receiving the letter but scoffed at accusations over abuse of SRG funds.
“It is true I was served with a dismissal letter but not over misappropriation of SRG funds. What happened is that last year in October we received funds for the School Rehabilitation Programme and there were specific procedures we were supposed to follow. This was supposed to be done before distributing the funds to the schools,” he said.
Mr Chademana said at one point they were asked to return the money to Treasury but as a board they agreed not to do that.
“Instead of returning the money, we distributed it to the respective schools but unfortunately it appears as if I did this alone yet we reached a consensus as a board,” he said.
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