Mutare school head in US$7 000 fraud
MUTARE – A Mweya Mutsvene High School head is facing over US$7 000 fraud charge, an audit done on school projects reveals.
Abel Rubende, is alleged to have misappropriated funds from the school uniforms and bus projects.
According to an audit report on the school’s projects done by ACG Consultancy from July 1, 2019 to June 4 this year, Rubende failed to account for US$4 479.
This was after parents raised concerns that they did not receive the full bouquet of school uniforms after they paid US$140 for the uniforms.
In the audit, Rubende is also alleged to have failed to account and provide receipts for various payments amounting to over US$3 000.
The audit exposed that there were numerous bus tickets that were not accounted for on the various routes plied by the school bus.
The school project account was never disclosed to the auditors, violating the International Accounting Standards.
It was also noted that the school projects were being run without the involvement of the School Development Committee (SDC).
The SDC has since written to the Manicaland Provincial Education director over the audit.
In a letter to the PED, the SDC chairperson, one Chideya, said parents had displayed total dismay over the audit findings and revelations of abuse of funds:
The letter read: “We were prompted to engage a special audit, a copy of which has been attached.
“The contents of the report leave a lot to be desired and truly make reading disturbing.
“After a thorough analysis, the SDC resolved that the school head reimburse the school of all the losses incurred by the school as enshrined in the detailed report.
“Of importance to note is the uniforms project account transactions which were maintained exclusive of SDC knowledge and involvement.
“The committee resolved that the school head make good all misappropriated funds in this account as it was seemingly maintained as a private project.”
The SDC has requested the assistance of the Education ministry to recover its misappropriated funds.
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