Bribery scam at Joshua Nkomo's college

Authorities at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo polytechnic have reportedly warned lecturers against corruption amid revelations some of them are demanding upto $500 in bribes from those wishing to enrol in teacher training for the May intake.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said management at the college recently held a meeting in which lecturers were warned of dismissal if they were found to be demanding or accepting bribes.

The bribery scam comes amid calls for the college to give preference to Ndebele speaking students from Matabeleland South province who understand local languages.

In an interview with ZBC radio on Thursday, Mat South provincial affairs minister Abedinico Ncube said he had heard of rumours that some lecturers were demanding bribes from aspiring students.

Ncube attributed the poor results in the province to teachers who cannot speak local languages saying there was need for teachers to be deployed to areas were they understand the local languages.

This has seen growing calls that this time around preference on enrollment be given to locals.

The constitution now recognises the previously marginalised languages and the college has already introduced Sotho and Venda into the curriculum.