Corruption and Child Victimization Exposed at Murowa Primary School, Zvishavane

Dear Editor, 

It is really sad and devastating when ZANU PF officials boldly defy His Excellency's instruction that no child must be victimised for non-payment of fees. For the past four weeks, there has been no proper learning at Murowa Primary School in Zvishavane district as every morning pupils are being sent back home for non-payment of fees by the combative SDC Chairman, who is also ZANU PF district chairman.

The SDC Chair openly boasts that he is in charge of the school and his actions cannot be questioned by anyone, and doesn't care about what the President says. Not that we support fees non payment but surely four weeks of no learning is too much punishment for the learner. This has also affected the morale of both teachers and learners, as the Chairman is always at the school saying come 2030, he will still be the Chairman.

The main reason for non-payment of fees by parents is financial mismanagement by the school head, and this case was reported to the relevant Ministry of Education, but no action has been taken. The head is running the school as his own tuckshop project with no proper financial accountability. The said auditors from Runde Rural District Council who visited the school spent less than half an hour in the office and two hours feasting. Parents are demanding proper and thorough auditing of school finances.

The school administration is a family affair, as the head's wife is the senior teacher and also serves as the clerk. On the other hand, the SDC committee is a family affair where the Chairman and Treasurer are blood brothers, and the school operates a stop order account from the treasurer's shop. This is madness to say the least insofar as checks and balances are concerned.

As parents we sincerely once again ask the ministry of education to intervene and ensure proper learning at the school for the sake of our kids we also unreservedly demand for a thorough audit of the school finances and that the SDC members who are giving themselves paid contracts at the school be brought to book, together with the headmaster for this is the highest form of corruption.

Concerned Parents

Murowa Primary School, Zvishavane

Murowa Primary School corruption