The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Farawo
The Public Service Commission has started expelling school heads linked to abuse of development levies, and 74 are before provincial disciplinary panels it has emerged.
The crackdown involves the PSC and the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry.
In 2015, Government started auditing all Government and mission schools following indications of abuse of funds.
Though only 2 000 out of 8 000 schools have been audited, authorities have unearthed irregularities ranging from flouting tender procedures to fraud.
The ministry estimates that over U$1,2 billion circulates in the learning institutions yearly, and some heads, bursars and school development association officials have been helping themselves to part of the sum.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail last week, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said preliminary investigations pointed to rampant abuse of funds.
He said the expelled heads and those under investigation were charged with misconduct and abuse of office.
“At the moment, we have at least 74 cases which are at various stages of hearings throughout the country. There are also other cases that are before the courts, and more have been referred to the Public Service Commission for determination.
“Some school authorities have been charged with misconduct and others who are also found guilty will either be expelled, suspended or demoted. The decision, however, rests with the PSC.
“I have previously stated that the situation at most of our schools cannot continue. As Government, we need to put a stop to it, and we are still consulting stakeholders over the matter.”
According to the preliminary audit report, 20 heads in Mashonaland Central and 10 in Midlands have appeared before disciplinary panels.
Harare and Bulawayo have four cases each, Matabeleland South six, Manicaland seven, Mashonaland East eight and Mashonaland West nine.
