Govt taking over SDA accounts for schools raises a lot of suspicion

Our role in society for the sake national interest we are supposed to promote transparency and accountability in Government institutions and provide alternatives for good institutional frameworks. MINDS will not leave no stone unturned in governance matters, and expose the rot in all system for the good of our country. First of all we would like to categorically state it clearly that it is a wrong move for the government to take that direction, because school accounts must be independent from anyone. We have systems and structures in schools.

What minister Dokora should do is to put stern measures in schools to avoid abuse and promote transparency. What guarantee does the minister give over those public funds if the Government takes over? What should the minister do is to promote transparency and accountability. We encourage him to do workshops, trainings and bring in qualified personnel or increase number auditors in Government schools so that the rot will be exposed.

We have cases in the past were the Government raided school accounts, Universities during Gono s time and it was difficult to recover those monies. Up to now some of the institutions haven't recovered their funds. We are dealing with the same Government, same system and same people and what has changed?

We need to hear good initiatives, good policies and measures to promote good education. This issue of using the language of promoting transparency by taking over school SDA accounts and later raid them is not called for. One of the sectors which is literally dead is the education sector. These are minors which can easily be managed in schools.

 We have major issues in schools, where in some areas children are learning under trees, muddy classrooms and the minister is never concerned about that, only to be concerned about school accounts and this will raise a lot of suspicion.

ZIMSEC exams are leaking on yearly basis and what is the minister doing about it?

We have strong reservations on issues to do with financial matters especially looking in the past, history tells us that public finance needs more clarity. Judging with the way ZIMDEF funds have been looted by Jonathan Moyo and company really it's a cause of concern for our beloved country.

We must guard jealously especially with matters to do with the future generations. What has led the minister to pronounce such measures?

Dokora s policies are inconsistent and misguided. We need good measures that bring joy and comfort in the education sector. We raise this alarm especially when we are moving towards elections and we here some parties are struggling to raise money for campaigns.

This will be very unfortunate to hear that Government has raided school accounts. This is not good news for the country to hear that education minister is taking over the SDA accounts. This bring worry particularly at the time when ZANU PF has failed to account for a lot of public finance, and at the time when there is critical shortage of cash, and it raises a lot suspicion.

We have ZIMDEF funds which were looted on the day broad light and nothing happened to the looters. We have ZINARA funds, toll fees, we have POTRAZ funds, our message to the minister is that look for other means to stamp corruption other than taking over SDA accounts. In fact to state the record straight this minister must resign with immediate effect, for his has caused untold suffering in the education sector. Teachers are working like slaves without any meaningful benefit and this has set a bad precedence.

We need ideas of how to improve the education sector and living standards of teachers and also their welfare. We need good ideas that bring institutional reforms. If there is a ministry that needs quick replacement it is the ministry of primary and secondary education. Remember this is the same person who nearly introduced uniforms for teachers, and we can't put trust in such people to lead our key sectors like education.

SOLUTIONS
- Introduce internal audits which will rotate per quarter in schools

- Engange independent auditors

- Be consultative before making policies

- Call for a stakeholders conference meetings with parents, ngos, civic society, church, etc. to hear people s views regarding the matter of corruption

- Take into accountability people s ideas

- Be accommodative

- Bring sanity in ministry officials in terms of corruption as well starting by you as the minister

- Tender procedures from the ministry of primary and secondary education should be transparent

- Bring policies that are viable and developmental

- The Minister must tender his resignation letter with immediate effect.

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal opinion as the Director of Mentorship Institute of National Development and Sustainability. MINDS is a civic society organization responsible for policy research, gender and development studies, public finance, sustainable development through Agriculture and rural development. He is also a consultant in Development and Capacity Development and Institutional Building. He can be contacted at greatorminds@gmail.com