New audits for all schools

Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
AUTHORITIES at schools who were missed by the recently completed sample audit exercise that resulted in the arrest of several heads and clerks on allegations of looting funds were this week left quaking in their shoes as Government plans to visit every school to fish out corruption.

In an interview on Wednesday, Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, said the imminent all-sweeping audit exercise follows the rampant looting of funds that was exposed by the piece-meal sample survey.

He said the results of the sample survey were just a tip of an ice-berg amid growing concern that the broom must sweep every corner.

“The corruption is bigger than we have imagined. We don’t want to leave things to guess work. The audit team needs to visit each and every school because what we got from the sample survey was shocking. If we assume that things are okay we run the risk of plunging ourselves into more trouble.

“We need to instill a culture of accountability and that is only achievable if people know that at one time their books will be checked and those found wanting will be taken to the cleaners. As I speak, the audit team is now in the Midlands Province for the next four weeks. When they complete their task we will ask them to visit each and every school here in Manicaland,” he said.

Mr Shumba said apart from fishing out rot, the audit would help school authorities to come up with decisions that aid the effective and efficient use of available resources.

He urged parents to provide tips each time they suspect foul play at schools.

At least three accounts clerks were arrested, while a headmaster went AWOL in the wake of the audit exercise that is registering good results.

At Munyira High School, $1 920 could not be accounted for, while the school head went into hiding after converting $6 000 meant for fees to his own use.

Close to $13 000 was stolen at Hande High School, while $3 386 disappeared at Madzivire Secondary School.

Members of the audit team who requested anonymity revealed that while some school heads deliberately stole money, some were running down institution out of ignorance.

“We have cases whereby those in power colluded to steal funds in a well calculated move. They did everything right and provided expenditure documents to justify their actions. Some of the raised invoices were fictitious as some ghost suppliers were paid for supplying nothing.

“Some services were over-priced. At one school a builder was paid thousands of dollars for doing a job that costs much less. We also had cases whereby some school heads abused funds just because they do not have the financial know-how to use money.

“It is a case of a blind man leading people into the darkness. At the end of the day money was lost because of poor decision making. When we write the audit reports, the aim is to give leadership the guideline on how best they can turn the schools into well run entities whose sole purpose is to churn out best students.”

Meanwhile, an acting headmaster at Demeni Primary School in Chimanimani has been hauled before the courts on allegations of stealing $750.

Bright Maunga (40) who resides at the school is alleged to have faked his workmate, Grace Muchakubvurura’s signature to withdraw the money from the school’s CBZ account.

Maunga pleaded not guilty to the charge and was asked to pay $30 bail by senior Mutare senior magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura.

Public prosecutor, Mr Donald Mudadirwa, told the court that on June 25, Maunga went to a CBZ Bank branch along Second Street in Mutare and forged Muchakubvurura’s signature on the withdrawal slip with the intention to withdraw $750.

“Maunga handed over the slip to a bank teller, Tsitsi Mukwemo. Mukwemo discovered that the signature which was on the withdrawal slip was different from the original saved in their computers. She then phoned Muchakubvurura to confirm whether she had signed the slip and send Maunga to withdraw cash. Muchakubvurura denied sending Maunga to withdraw the money,” said Mr Mudadirwa.

Maunga denied the charges.

“I am the acting headmaster at the school Your Worship and teachers are resisting my authority because of my age. This was planned to fix me. I was sent by the school to withdraw the money.”

The case goes for trial on August 20.