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Tanyaradzwa Rusike-Check Point Desk
KUDAKWASHE Primary School in Glen Norah, Harare, has been rocked by a corruption scandal implicating its headmaster Mr Levyson Phiri, an internal audit report done in February 2024 by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has revealed.
The report which was compiled between January 2022 and November 2023, details how Mr Phiri allegedly flouted tender procedures, diverted mealie-meal meant for underprivileged pupils to the black market, forced parents to buy overpriced uniforms from the school, and misused funds.
The audit was initiated following concerns raised by the provincial education director after the School Development Committee (SDC) and an internal investigating committee flagged anomalies in the handling of school finances and assets.
One of the allegations involves the diversion of crucial resources meant for the school feeding programme.
Sources within the school allege that Mr Phiri, working in cahoots with a groundsman, systematically siphoned off bags of Government-supplied mealie-meal and sold them on the black market.
The audit report corroborates these allegations, highlighting discrepancies in the stock records and a failure by the headmaster to provide satisfactory explanations for the missing provisions.
“On April 10, our security guard apprehended one of our groundsmen with a 44kg bag of mealie meal meant for the feeding programme.
“The matter was then referred to police, RRB6377340. Upon questioning, he explained that he was acting on the instruction of the school head and one of the teachers, Mrs Gunda,” read a letter written by the School Development Committee (SDC) members to the provincial education director.
Furthermore, Mr Phiri stands accused of brazenly disregarding official guidelines on fuel allocation.
Despite a clear circular (Ref D/16/5) stipulating a maximum of 160 litres of petrol per month for authorised officers below the deputy director grade, the report indicates that Mr Phiri consistently demanded and received over 160 litres monthly in some instances.
“The head should reimburse the SDC Account the 1 160 litres fuel allocation he got,” reads part of the audit.
The audit also revealed some opaque fundraising activities allegedly conducted by Mr Phiri without the knowledge of the SDC.
Parents are reportedly being charged “Civics collections” twice per term, with the headmaster claiming the proceeds are used for basic supplies like brooms.
“Financial Management for Non-finance Education Managers Chapter 4 Section 4.6.3 (a) and 4.6.6 (4) stipulates that official receipt must immediately be issued for any money received in cash or as reflected on the bank statement for direct deposit.
“Civics collections are done twice a term, yet the head claims that the proceeds are used to buy brooms for the classes.”
However, he allegedly failed to provide any supporting documentation to the SDC treasurer, dismissing the treasurer’s role as merely “ceremonial.”
The failure to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) during the audit period further fuelled concerns about a lack of transparency and accountability. Adding to the financial irregularities is the alleged mismanagement of a school poultry project.
The report states that Mr Phiri abandoned the initiative without providing any receipts or justification for the funds initially invested.
“Audit noted that the poultry project was abandoned in February 2023. It was reported that the reason for abandonment was because the chickens were dying at a high rate.
“The school bought two batches of 200 chicks during the period 2022 to February 2023. Audit was not availed with records for the project, although we were shown the receipt books where the proceeds from the project were receipted,” reads part of the report.
“The proceeds were banked in the school account. The production record book was misplaced by Mrs Sithokozile Ndhlovu, an office orderly at the school.
“We verified receipt books and found out that the school had realised the proceeds as follows: The anticipated income was 400 chicks x US$6 = US$2 400. Considering there were no deaths, audit could not determine whether the project was profitable or not due to lack of records of actual number of birds sold and those that died.”
Parents have also voiced their outrage over the uniform procurement system allegedly orchestrated by the headmaster.
They are reportedly forced to purchase uniforms directly from the school before being allowed to pay fees. The uniform supplier is paid US$54 per set, while parents are charged US$66.
“Uniforms were being sold by a company at the school at a commission of 5 percent and it was accounted for in the school account. There was no contract between the school and the company
The audit report further details an instance where the SDC was inexplicably asked to foot a US$650 bill for the repair of a printing machine without any prior quotation.
The school headmaster is also accused of hiring a tractor amounting to RTG800 000 without agreement with SDC.
“Audit noted that procurement procedure was not followed on the repair of printing machine and did not follow procurement procedures,” reads part of the audit.
Contacted for comment, Mr Phiri said he was not aware of the audit report.
“I am not aware of any report that you are talking about. I would appreciate if you can send it on my WhatsApp number,” he said
Online Reporter