Mbare school owner sentenced after defrauding O Level candidates

Magistrate's Court, Harare

HARARE — A 39‑year‑old school owner in Mbare, Richmore Sairos, has been sentenced to community service after being found guilty of defrauding four Cambridge Ordinary Level candidates of US$2,335 in examination fees. The sentence allows him to avoid immediate imprisonment, provided he reimburses the stolen funds.

The matter arose from Cambridge Ordinary Level registrations for the June 2022 examinations. Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri told the court that parents paid registration fees intended for the British Council Examination account. One parent, Thompson Tendai Munetsi, paid US$700 for his child’s five-subject registration. Sairos was required to deposit the funds into a nostro account and transfer them to the British Council.

The State presented evidence that Sairos converted the funds for personal use and produced a forged statement of entry for the student. As examination dates neared, Sairos falsely claimed there had been an error with the Cambridge board. On 7 June 2022, he received US$1,312 for two other learners and again misappropriated the money, fabricating payment confirmations from NMB Bank. Police investigations and documentary evidence supported the prosecution’s case and led to Sairos’s conviction.

Presiding Magistrate Nyaradzo Manokore initially imposed a 24‑month jail term, suspending four months on condition of good behaviour. An additional 14 months were suspended contingent upon full repayment of US$2,335 to the victims. The remaining six months were deferred on condition that Sairos perform community service.

The sentencing structure effectively requires reimbursement and community work in place of immediate incarceration, while leaving custodial time on record should conditions be breached.

Legal observers say the sentence balances punitive and restorative aims by prioritising victim reimbursement and community restitution. The case highlights risks parents face when entrusting private education providers with examination fees and underscores the importance of transparent financial controls and verified banking procedures.

Child protection groups and education regulators may use the outcome to press for stronger oversight of private colleges, mandatory proof of payment protocols, and clearer consumer er being found guilprotections for parents.

Mbare school owner sentenced defrauding O Level candidates