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ZACC joins fight against education corruption
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The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has intensified efforts to root out corruption in schools across Manicaland by enlisting the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the police, following a wave of fraud and mismanagement cases uncovered through internal audits, The Manica Post has learned.
Auditors deployed by the ministry have discovered alarming levels of financial misconduct at several schools, leading to criminal referrals and demands for restitution. One of the most serious cases was unearthed at Mweyamutsvene High School in Mutare District, where approximately US$320,000 was reportedly siphoned from school funds over a two-year period. The audit, prompted by reports of financial irregularities, revealed that the funds were systematically misappropriated under the watch of the school head, Mrs. Merceline Chibwe.
Sources familiar with the investigation allege that Mrs. Chibwe resigned just before the audit began and went into hiding upon learning that the matter would be reported to ZACC and the police. It is alleged that she took advantage of weak internal controls to manipulate cash transactions, diverting school funds for personal use. Attempts to reach Mrs. Chibwe for comment were unsuccessful, as her mobile number remained unreachable.
This case is not an isolated incident. Other schools in the province have been flagged for poor financial management and deliberate sabotage, with several school heads either forced to reimburse misused funds or facing criminal proceedings. In some cases, school authorities have resisted accountability, prompting the ministry to escalate matters to law enforcement agencies.
Parents have raised their own concerns, accusing some school heads of abusing funds by attending events unrelated to their schools, including sports tournaments where no students from their institutions are participating. There are also reports of parents being forced to pay extra levies outside the official school fee structures approved by the government.
In response, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has put in place more rigorous financial monitoring mechanisms. Speaking to The Manica Post, ministry spokesperson Mr. Taungana Ndoro said the internal audits have exposed systemic issues such as poor segregation of duties, weak oversight by School Development Committees (SDCs), a lack of financial literacy among school finance staff, and a general misunderstanding of government procurement and finance guidelines. He said opportunism was especially prevalent in rural schools that rely on cash-based systems due to limited banking access.
Mr. Ndoro revealed that the ministry has stepped up unannounced audits by provincial teams, encouraged anonymous reporting through toll-free whistle-blower platforms, and mandated schools to publicly display financial information to ensure transparency. Where there is non-compliance, school heads and finance committee members are being suspended under the Public Finance Management Act, and cases involving fraud are being referred to ZACC for criminal investigation.
He urged parents, guardians, community members, and educators to report any suspected financial abuse to their district or provincial education offices. To improve accountability, school heads are now required to submit quarterly progress reports on the implementation of audit recommendations, which are verified by District Schools Inspectors. In addition, the ministry is conducting mandatory training workshops on public financial management, procurement regulations, and digital accounting systems. These sessions are supported by ZACC, which also provides ethics training focused on preventing corruption.
The ministry is also taking steps to address long-term governance issues. Procurement of high-value items such as school buses has been centralised to eliminate opportunities for tender splitting and kickbacks. This follows revelations that some school leaders were prioritising expensive purchases while learners continued to face shortages of textbooks, dilapidated infrastructure, and poor sanitation.
In a broader effort to instil a culture of integrity within the education system, the ministry is setting up integrity committees in schools. These committees will act as internal oversight bodies, tasked with promoting ethical conduct, investigating misconduct, and recommending corrective action. They will also serve as safe channels for whistle-blowers, ensuring that corruption is identified and addressed before it causes further harm.
Mr. Ndoro emphasized that the ministry's renewed focus on financial accountability is aimed at protecting public resources and ensuring that every dollar allocated to education directly benefits learners. He said the crackdown is part of a larger commitment to restore trust in public schools and uphold the principles of transparency and good governance.
Auditors deployed by the ministry have discovered alarming levels of financial misconduct at several schools, leading to criminal referrals and demands for restitution. One of the most serious cases was unearthed at Mweyamutsvene High School in Mutare District, where approximately US$320,000 was reportedly siphoned from school funds over a two-year period. The audit, prompted by reports of financial irregularities, revealed that the funds were systematically misappropriated under the watch of the school head, Mrs. Merceline Chibwe.
Sources familiar with the investigation allege that Mrs. Chibwe resigned just before the audit began and went into hiding upon learning that the matter would be reported to ZACC and the police. It is alleged that she took advantage of weak internal controls to manipulate cash transactions, diverting school funds for personal use. Attempts to reach Mrs. Chibwe for comment were unsuccessful, as her mobile number remained unreachable.
This case is not an isolated incident. Other schools in the province have been flagged for poor financial management and deliberate sabotage, with several school heads either forced to reimburse misused funds or facing criminal proceedings. In some cases, school authorities have resisted accountability, prompting the ministry to escalate matters to law enforcement agencies.
Parents have raised their own concerns, accusing some school heads of abusing funds by attending events unrelated to their schools, including sports tournaments where no students from their institutions are participating. There are also reports of parents being forced to pay extra levies outside the official school fee structures approved by the government.
In response, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has put in place more rigorous financial monitoring mechanisms. Speaking to The Manica Post, ministry spokesperson Mr. Taungana Ndoro said the internal audits have exposed systemic issues such as poor segregation of duties, weak oversight by School Development Committees (SDCs), a lack of financial literacy among school finance staff, and a general misunderstanding of government procurement and finance guidelines. He said opportunism was especially prevalent in rural schools that rely on cash-based systems due to limited banking access.
Mr. Ndoro revealed that the ministry has stepped up unannounced audits by provincial teams, encouraged anonymous reporting through toll-free whistle-blower platforms, and mandated schools to publicly display financial information to ensure transparency. Where there is non-compliance, school heads and finance committee members are being suspended under the Public Finance Management Act, and cases involving fraud are being referred to ZACC for criminal investigation.
He urged parents, guardians, community members, and educators to report any suspected financial abuse to their district or provincial education offices. To improve accountability, school heads are now required to submit quarterly progress reports on the implementation of audit recommendations, which are verified by District Schools Inspectors. In addition, the ministry is conducting mandatory training workshops on public financial management, procurement regulations, and digital accounting systems. These sessions are supported by ZACC, which also provides ethics training focused on preventing corruption.
The ministry is also taking steps to address long-term governance issues. Procurement of high-value items such as school buses has been centralised to eliminate opportunities for tender splitting and kickbacks. This follows revelations that some school leaders were prioritising expensive purchases while learners continued to face shortages of textbooks, dilapidated infrastructure, and poor sanitation.
In a broader effort to instil a culture of integrity within the education system, the ministry is setting up integrity committees in schools. These committees will act as internal oversight bodies, tasked with promoting ethical conduct, investigating misconduct, and recommending corrective action. They will also serve as safe channels for whistle-blowers, ensuring that corruption is identified and addressed before it causes further harm.
Mr. Ndoro emphasized that the ministry's renewed focus on financial accountability is aimed at protecting public resources and ensuring that every dollar allocated to education directly benefits learners. He said the crackdown is part of a larger commitment to restore trust in public schools and uphold the principles of transparency and good governance.
Source - Manica Post
