Mutare Teacher Arrested Over Alleged US$1,100 Teaching Jobs Scam

MUTARE, Zimbabwe – A teacher employed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has appeared in court after allegedly defrauding two women of US$1,100 by falsely promising to secure them teaching jobs.

Melline Chirinda (40), a teacher at St Joseph's High School in Mutare, was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Thursday and appeared before the Mutare Magistrates' Court on Friday, facing two counts of fraud. According to court documents, Chirinda allegedly misrepresented herself as having the authority and influence to facilitate employment within the education sector in exchange for cash payments from job seekers.

In the first count, Chirinda is accused of approaching Mercylyn Gonouya (34) of Chigodora in January 2025 while allegedly using the name "Ms Martin." Prosecutors allege that Chirinda convinced Gonouya that she could secure a teaching post if she paid a "facilitation fee" of US$700. Believing the offer to be genuine, Gonouya reportedly paid US$550 towards the promised employment opportunity.

After receiving the money, Chirinda allegedly became unreachable, stopped answering phone calls, and ignored messages. Investigations later revealed that the person identifying herself as "Ms Martin" was allegedly Chirinda, whom Gonouya reportedly identified through a Facebook account.

Court records indicate that in February 2026, Gonouya confronted Chirinda in the presence of her husband and demanded a refund. Chirinda allegedly claimed the money had already been passed on to other individuals involved in the purported recruitment process. Following intervention by Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education officials, who reportedly summoned Chirinda on May 13, 2026, the US$550 was repaid in full.

In a separate but similar incident, Chirinda allegedly took another US$550 from Tafadzwa Hellen Mutseyangwa (37), a self-employed resident of Mutare Rural Police Camp. Prosecutors allege that Chirinda promised Mutseyangwa a teaching post within a week after receiving the payment in January 2026. However, after obtaining the money, Chirinda allegedly became evasive and failed to provide proof that any recruitment process had taken place. The court heard that the second complainant has not yet recovered her money.

The alleged fraud was reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on May 20, 2026. Following investigations, ZACC officers arrested Chirinda on May 28. Authorities say the total amount involved in the alleged scam is US$1,100, with only half of that amount having been refunded.

Chirinda appeared before the Mutare Magistrates' Court and was granted US$100 bail. She was remanded to June 15, 2026, pending further court proceedings. The case highlights growing concerns over employment-related fraud schemes targeting desperate job seekers, particularly within the education sector, where competition for teaching posts remains high. Authorities have urged members of the public to verify recruitment processes through official government channels and report any requests for payment in exchange for employment opportunities.

Mutare teacher teaching jobs scam