Johnson Progress

A Bindura headmaster has been convicted of stealing funds meant for pupils’ examination fees. Kudakwashe Tivarige, 35, headmaster at Sunrise Group of Schools in Maruvanyika Village, was found guilty of theft of trust property after diverting $792 intended for 2025 Grade Seven exam fees.

Between February 2024 and January 2025, 12 pupils paid their ZIMSEC exam fees through the school’s accounts office.

Tivarige was instructed to register the pupils at Dengu Primary School, a designated exam center, but instead pocketed the money and falsely claimed that registration had been done at Maravanyika Primary School.

The fraud was uncovered when school director Martha Masiachengo verified the registration status with ZIMSEC and discovered that none of the pupils had been registered.

A police report was filed at ZRP Manhenga, leading to Tivarige’s arrest.

None of the stolen funds were recovered.

Tivarige was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, with 3 months suspended on condition of good behavior.

Another 3 months were suspended if he restitutes $292.

The remaining 6 months were converted to 245 hours of community service at Manhenga Clinic.

Authorities have stressed that misappropriation of school funds, particularly examination fees, severely compromises children’s futures and warned that such offenses will be met with stern consequences.

This case underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in school administration to prevent such abuses of power.

Meanwhile in a similar case, Rumbidzai Magwaku, a bursar at Khumalo Primary School in Bulawayo, was convicted of stealing $502 in school development levies and sentenced to community service.

These incidents highlight the need for schools to implement robust financial controls and oversight mechanisms to prevent such abuses.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe has been working to address corruption and misconduct cases, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in public institutions.