News / National
Headmaster, SDC chairman jailed for milking school
28 Mar 2013 at 05:12hrs | Views
A RUSAPE school headmaster and a School Development Committee chairperson who stole school funds amounting to $2 173 were last week sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
Chimuduro Primary School headmaster, Stewart Taonezvi (49) and SDC chairperson, Itayi Huche (42) who were charged together with the deputy headmaster, Jotham Saunyama, who was acquitted were not represented and were denying the allegations.
Taonezvi and Huche on four occasions withdrew money from the school account at Agribank, Rusape meant for school use and converted it to their own use.
When the two were quizzed by other SDA members on what school property they had bought using the money, they showed them books donated by Unicef.
The two also lied to the SDA members that they paid affiliation fees to sporting organisations and also bought a plastic cover for $200 and claimed that the receipts were kept at the Ministry of Education offices.
Saunyama was acquitted after the court was convinced by his defence that although he signed the withdrawal slips, he never went to withdrew the money nor buy anything on behalf of the school.
Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro, however gave the duo an option to pay a fine of $700 apiece. Mr Mutiro further slapped the two with a 12-month jail term, which was wholly suspended on condition of restituting the school the fully amount of $2 173.
In sentencing the two, Mr Mutiro did not have any kind words for Taonezvi and Huche, saying they should appreciate that crime does not pay.
"The $2 173 you stole was not recovered, so you benefited from the offence. You must be made to appreciate that crime does not pay.
"What also aggravated your case is that you even stole BEAM funds which are public money," said Mr Mutiro.
Mr Gift Chokodza prosecuted.
Chimuduro Primary School headmaster, Stewart Taonezvi (49) and SDC chairperson, Itayi Huche (42) who were charged together with the deputy headmaster, Jotham Saunyama, who was acquitted were not represented and were denying the allegations.
Taonezvi and Huche on four occasions withdrew money from the school account at Agribank, Rusape meant for school use and converted it to their own use.
When the two were quizzed by other SDA members on what school property they had bought using the money, they showed them books donated by Unicef.
The two also lied to the SDA members that they paid affiliation fees to sporting organisations and also bought a plastic cover for $200 and claimed that the receipts were kept at the Ministry of Education offices.
Saunyama was acquitted after the court was convinced by his defence that although he signed the withdrawal slips, he never went to withdrew the money nor buy anything on behalf of the school.
Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro, however gave the duo an option to pay a fine of $700 apiece. Mr Mutiro further slapped the two with a 12-month jail term, which was wholly suspended on condition of restituting the school the fully amount of $2 173.
In sentencing the two, Mr Mutiro did not have any kind words for Taonezvi and Huche, saying they should appreciate that crime does not pay.
"The $2 173 you stole was not recovered, so you benefited from the offence. You must be made to appreciate that crime does not pay.
"What also aggravated your case is that you even stole BEAM funds which are public money," said Mr Mutiro.
Mr Gift Chokodza prosecuted.
Source - MP
