Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A FRAUDULENT teacher recruitment scheme has been uncovered following the arrest of a St Joseph’s High School teacher in Mutare, accused of swindling desperate educators by promising them jobs and transfers.
The suspect, Melline Chirinda (40), allegedly posed as a well-connected insider, convincing victims that she could secure teaching posts and transfers to better schools.
She now faces multiple fraud charges after three additional complainants came forward, bringing the number of alleged victims to five.
Chirinda appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira last Friday, charged with fraud-related offences.
Prosecutor, Ms. Joice Tinarwo, said Chirinda was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) after claims she took money from unemployed and serving teachers, promising to influence recruitment and deployment within the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Investigators revealed that what began as two isolated complaints has quickly expanded, raising suspicions of a wider recruitment racket.
Authorities believe more victims may still emerge.
The alleged scheme relied on Chirinda’s claims of influential connections capable of bypassing official procedures.
Education officials have since warned that no individual teacher has the authority to recruit or deploy educators, urging job seekers not to pay money for Government posts.
Manicaland’s Chief Director for Education, Mr Richard Gabaza, described the allegations as unprecedented, warning that unemployed teachers remain vulnerable to fraudsters exploiting their desperation for employment.
“This is the first case we have encountered in the province. We were shocked because teachers are generally known for their integrity and professionalism,” said Mr Gabaza, adding that no individual teacher has the authority to recruit or deploy educators as Government recruitment follows strict and transparent procedures.
“Every Government has a system. Not everyone has the authority to recruit teachers. An individual teacher cannot influence recruitment like this woman has allegedly been claiming to her victims,” he said, further explaining that recruitment is conducted through district and provincial placement committees comprising representatives from the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“When teachers complete their studies, they register with the Public Service Commission, and it is that database that is used during recruitment and deployment. We also take into consideration the year in which teachers completed their training,” said Mr Gabaza, urging teachers and the public to verify information through official channels before parting with their hard-earned money.
“As a ministry, we urge teachers to follow the proper procedures. Our offices are always open. People can call, visit district offices, provincial offices or the Public Service Commission. Do not fall prey to scams because you will lose your money,” he said, warning that bribery itself is a criminal offence.
“The moment you pay or receive a bribe, you become part of that criminal act. We encourage people to follow lawful procedures,” he said.
Court records reveal a pattern in which alleged victims were promised transfers or employment in exchange for so-called facilitation fees.
In one case, a serving teacher, Mercy Chiwara allegedly paid US$300 after being assured she could be transferred to a school closer to her home.
The court heard that Chiwara met Chirinda through a social savings group.
“Chirinda convinced Chiwara of her capabilities by facilitating the successful transfer of another teacher, thereby creating confidence among potential clients. Believing Chirinda had genuine influence within the education system, Chiwara introduced other job-seeking teachers to her.
“Another qualified teacher, Munyaradzi Mwashita, paid US$600 after being promised employment by September 2024. Mwashita had to sell a beast to raise the money, before handing it over to Chirinda at Meikles Park in the city. Months later, the promised job had not materialised,” said Ms Tinarwo during the court session.
The court also heard that when Mwashita sought answers, Chirinda allegedly advised her to wait for future recruitment intakes before eventually becoming difficult to contact.
In a third matter, a qualified teacher, Rudo Moyana, allegedly lost US$600 after her family was reportedly convinced that employment had been secured through Chirinda’s connections.
Ms Tinarwo alleged that after receiving the money, Chirinda communicated with Moyana using the alias ‘Ms Martin’, and requested personal information, while promising deployment within two weeks. No job materialised. Significantly, all three complainants reported the matter only after reading newspaper reports of Chirinda’s earlier arrest on similar allegations.
In the earlier allegations, Chirinda is alleged to have contacted Merciline Gonouya via Facebook, and introduced herself as Ms Martin.
“She claimed to have connections in teacher recruitment within the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and offered to assist her to secure employment as a teacher. Gonouya expressed interest, and Chirinda indicated that she required US$700 as facilitation fee for the employment opportunity, but Gonouya only paid US$550,” said Ms Tinarwo.
After receiving the money, Chirinda became elusive, stopped answering calls, and left messages unread when Gonouya sought updates on the promised employment.
Gonouya later discovered via Facebook that Ms Martin was in fact Chirinda, and made a police report.
In the other case, Chirinda allegedly duped Tafadzwa Mutseyangwa, who was seeking recruitment.
She was duped of US$550, and reported the matter to ZACC when Chirinda became elusive.
The emergence of the cases has fuelled concerns that the reported incidents may represent only a fraction of the alleged victims.
The matter exposes the vulnerability of hundreds of qualified, but unemployed teachers awaiting deployment amid limited vacancies.
For many graduates, the promise of employment can be difficult to resist, especially when presented by someone already employed within the education system.
Meanwhile, Chirinda remains before the courts, with the State expected to continue presenting its case when the matter returns to court on June 17.
