Primary school head flees auditors

The ManicaPost

Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter —
THERE was drama at Albany Primary School in Chimanimani last Tuesday after the headmaster snatched receipt books from auditors and sped off in a hopeless bid to cover up alleged misap­propriation of funds at the school.

Internal auditors with the Ministry of Pri­mary and Secondary Education who were doing routine checks at schools in the district were left with their mouths ajar as Mr Charles Dudzai Mangoma disappeared with alleged incrimi­nating evidence.

He jumped into his car which he had parked at a distance and sped off, leaving the audi­tors and the School Development Association speechless.

Those who witnessed the drama said he shouted “mandigona” (you have fixed me) as he drove off in haste. Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, con­firmed the incident.

He said the headmaster, who has since returned to the school after the fiasco, would be charged with taking away the books of accounts without authority. Mr Shumba said the minis­try would institute a rigorous audit to unearth any irregularities at the school.

“It is quite a shocking case. The books of accounts were taken by the headmaster who ran away leaving the auditors stranded. As I speak, the District Schools Inspector for Chimanim­ani is at the school together with the headmas­ter who has now returned. The DSI is verifying the books and I will get in touch with him for further information. We will resend auditors to the school.

“After the DSI finishes verifying the books they will be handed to him by the head and we believe that the books are intact. If they were tampered with its criminal and correct meas­ures will be taken,” he said.

Those privy to the case revealed that when the auditors arrived at the school they quickly picked up that the headmaster was committing parallel receipting of fees.

“It was unearthed that there was parallel receipting at the school which implies that the school head was in possession of another receipt book identical to the one used by the school. Surprisingly, the head was the one in possession of all the books which he kept in his car.

“So when the auditors found out that receipts that were being issued out were coming from two different books they requested to be handed over the other book. At this point, the head is alleged to have gone out with the intention of bringing the other receipt book. He got back into the room where the auditors were conducting their work and pre­tended as if he was looking for the book from the heap they were inspecting.

“In an instant, he grabbed the books and sprinted to his vehicle and fled from the scene.

“Everything was brought to a halt and the auditors left without complet­ing their mission,” said the source who requested anonymity for professional reasons.