Online Reporter
Online Reporter
THERE’S trouble in the staffroom at Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo after the school’s bursar was slapped with a community service sentence for helping herself to over US$500 in school levies collected from learners.
Rumbidzai Magwaku (36) admitted to stealing US$502 meant for the School Development Committee and was convicted on her own guilty plea by Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Eva Matura.
The court heard how Magwaku pocketed the money between February and December last year, breaching her fiduciary duty and betraying the trust of parents and learners alike.
“She received a total of US$502 meant for the school and instead converted it to her own use,” said prosecutor Mr Samuel Mpofu.
She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with six months suspended on condition she pays back the full amount. The remaining six months were commuted to 420 hours of community service.
The theft came to light during a workshop involving Government and school bursars, where Magwaku reportedly admitted her books didn’t balance. A financial reconciliation and audit exposed the misappropriation.
But Magwaku isn’t the only one in the soup.
She was arrested alongside the school’s headmistress Stella Mhlanga (63), deputy head Enelesi Sibanda (56), and teachers Nombulelo Maiswa (57) and Siphatheleni Sibanda (52). The four are facing fraud charges and are out on US$50 bail each, granted by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Beverly Madzikatire.
As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at their stated addresses.
According to explosive court documents, Mhlanga allegedly received US$7 835 in levies but only banked US$2 727—leaving a staggering US$5 108 unaccounted for.
Deputy head Sibanda allegedly deposited just US$208 out of US$1 299, keeping US$1 091. Siphatheleni Sibanda is accused of banking only US$121 out of US$751, and Nombulelo Maiswa allegedly stashed away US$2 554 after banking just US$20 from US$2 574 collected.
The audit that blew the lid off the scandal was conducted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which flagged widespread financial irregularities at the school.
The quartet is expected back in court on April 30.
Watch this space—B-Metro is keeping its eyes on the Kumalo cash chaos!
