BULAWAYO – Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ) president Tafadzwa Munodawafa was on Friday convicted of theft of trust property by the Tredgold Magistrate’s Court in Bulawayo after being found guilty of stealing US$2,000 from Salume Vhovha.
She was sentenced to a wholly suspended 12-month prison term. Six months were suspended on condition that she restitutes the complainant the sum of US$2,000 forthwith. The remaining six months were suspended on condition she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
Failure to repay the money will result in the sentence being activated.
Munodawafa was recently reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), facing various allegations including fraud, theft of trust property, and mismanagement of teachers’ contributions. The matter is still under investigation and has not yet appeared in court.
Other EUZ leaders have petitioned the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to intervene, arguing that the alleged misappropriation of teachers’ contributions by Munodawafa and Secretary-General Tapedza Zhou is tarnishing the education system. The meeting is yet to materialise.
Former EUZ Midlands chairperson Timothy Sibanda welcomed the court ruling, saying:
“It’s indeed sweet news to the EUZ membership and to the teaching fraternity at large. A big lesson has to be drawn that when entrusted to lead, one has to remain level-headed and in sync with the rank and file. Going forward there is need for a reset of the association and remove those implicated until investigations are completed and work towards redirecting the Union to its founding principles and ethos of democracy, accountability, transparency and good governance,” Sibanda said.
However, outgoing Secretary-General Zhou criticised the conviction, claiming it was unjust:
“The charge, theft of trust property, emerges not from clear or compelling facts, but from a contentious reinterpretation of a previously unsubstantiated allegation of fraud. This sudden pivot in legal framing raises serious questions about the intentions and fairness of the entire process,” Zhou said.
Zhou is also accused of involvement in the alleged mismanagement of teachers’ funds and is reportedly linked to the wiping of teachers’ contributions, which led to the closure of the association’s CBZ bank account in Gokwe.
