Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE case of four former workers of a private college in Bulawayo who allegedly staged a dramatic “coup” by misleading parents into believing the school was closing and reopening under new management, opened at the Bulawayo Civil Court on Wednesday.
The defendants Gloria Ndlovu, Taslim Malik, Vena Mwadira and Samantha Manyathela Sibanda are being accused of fraud and theft after allegedly stealing critical school property including the student database, financial records and academic materials belonging to Faith Christian College (FCC).
The case is before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Eva Matura, who postponed the matter to May 16, with the State presenting evidence led by the investigating officer.
The prosecutor Mr Samuel Mpofu told the court that FCC was left reeling from the alleged internal sabotage, which occurred during the second term holidays in 2023. The incident allegedly triggered a mass exodus of learners across all levels as the rogue staffers announced the closure of the school and urged parents to re-register their children under a “new school management.”
“The school suffered significant reputational and financial damage after the accused misled parents and took academic material and financial books,” said Mr Mpofu.
In what has been described by the plaintiff as an “audacious power play,” the four defendants are allegedly to have secretly plotted the takeover using WhatsApp groups and other unofficial channels. The school director Mr Milton Maphosa only discovered the situation after parents started withdrawing their children.
The group is alleged to have opened a rival institution called Growing Minds Academia, which is located less than a kilometre from FCC and have allegedly been enrolling former FCC learners by offering reduced fees and free uniforms.
FCC’s legal representative, Mr Byron Sengweni of Sengweni Legal Practice, said the incident left the school vulnerable and deprived it of key assets and income.
“The turmoil ensued when staff members orchestrated a coup, overpowering the director and misleading parents into believing the school was shutting down and reopening elsewhere,” he said.
Mr Sengweni said police have since recovered 69 CALA files, 63 exercise books, 45 scheme books, four student books and a receipt book but several financial and employment records are still missing.
He estimated that the school lost over US$138 000 in potential revenue and assets due to the takeover.
Mr Sengweni said the new school charges US$300 per term while FCC charges US$360 and this is meant to lure FCC students.
The defendants are also said to have taken teacher contracts with them and have hired some of the FCC’s former staff.
