Chivhu head defrauds school of over $2 000

Goden Marume

CHIVHU – A school head from Chivhu is being accused of defrauding her former school of over $2 000 before she was transferred to a new school this year.

Chengeto Mavhondo is accused of defrauding Makumimavi primary school of $2 253 before she was transferred to Northwood primary late last year.

According to the internal audit investigation report which was carried out in April this year, Mavhondo failed to account for USD2 253.00 for the period stretching from January 2014 to December 2014.

“Audit observed that, the school withdrew a total amount of USD6 227.00 and made payments amounting to USD3 974.00 leaving a balance of USD2 253.00 not accounted for,” reads the audit report.

The auditors also indicated that there were missing payment vouchers for the period October 2014 to December 2014. 

In her defense, Mavhondo indicated to the auditors that the payment vouchers were available but financial records went missing. She also indicated that she made a verbal report to the District Education Officer (DEO), though no police report was made as required by Section 11.2 of the Finance and Administration Circular No. 6 of 1994.

The audit team also observed that some of the payment vouchers for the period 2014 to 2015 with a value of USD1 313.00 had not been adequately supported with receipts, cash sales or short receipts as proof of payment. Expenditure receipts amounting to USD211.60 had no payment vouchers.

In addition to the above findings, the auditors reported that some payment vouchers were just compiled but there was no date and not signed for authorisation by members of the Finance committee, hence, the payments could not be traced.

It is also alleged that when Mavhondo was the head, the school was operating without a receipt book register, violating provisions of section 5.3.1 of the Finance and Administration Circular No 6 of 1994.

However, though the school had a cashbook in place, it was noted that transactions for the year 2015 were recorded twice in two separate cashbooks using different layouts and also stock control registers were not properly maintained . As a result, the auditors concluded that there was high risk of stock pilferages.

Efforts to get comment from Mavhondo were fruitless by the time of going to print.

TellZim News established that the investigation was conducted at the request of the Provincial Education Director (PED), Christopher Chihota and District Education Officer (DEO), Ngoni Mujuru after receiving anonymous letters from concerned parents alleging maladministration of school funds by the former school head.

Earlier this year, most of the civil servants in Chikomba district’s education sector who after audits were found guilt of misappropriating school funds were immediately discharged from duty.news