By Marshall Bwanya
Harare – A decade-long corruption scheme is siphoning an estimated $100,000 annually from each of nine Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) schools, according to an investigation by this publication.
The affected schools include David Livingstone Memorial Primary School, Gloag Ranch Primary School 3, Redbank Primary School, Mnondu Primary School, Robert Sinyoka Primary School 6, David Livingstone Memorial Secondary School, Harold Munro Chitermere Secondary School, Gloag High School, and Presbyterian High School.
Sources within the schools allege that a cartel led by the schools’ finance director Sithulile Ncube and Reverend Hlanganiso Moyo is orchestrating the misappropriation of funds.
Despite attempts by parents, school officials, and church members to publicize the scandal, it has remained largely under wraps.
This publication’s investigation uncovered a clandestine operation by the administrators involving duplicate transactions, inflated prices, and unauthorized expenditures.
Parents were presented with duplicate documents as costs, and some payments were falsely declared as contributions to the church.
Sources within UPCSA allege that the last actual payment to the church was in 2012.
In November 2023, the School Development Committee (SDC) treasurer noticed suspicious double entries in the accounts.
Further investigations revealed that the cartel had purchased two buses at an inflated price of $200,000, defrauding the church of approximately $65,000 for both buses.
School insiders approached the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to investigate the matter, but the commission has been slow to act.
Additionally, the cartel purchased two GD6 vehicles without authorization, claiming that they had been approved by the church, which UPCSA sources deny.
“No such approval was given by the church or organ within the church.
“The office misrepresented the information to the SDC Church that the church had agreed and paid a deposit which was not true,” said the source.
Leaked deliberations of UPCSA and parent meetings revealed the cartel’s modus operandi.
An aggrieved parent stated, “We understand the school is losing plus or minus US$100, 000 a year or even more because like last year it was US$42, 000 for Gloag in three months January, February, March.
“What about David (Livingstone) US$150, 00 and you are saying you will pay for the bus for US$25, 000,” said an aggrieved parent.
“I went to the bank and the bank said they are paying US$20, 000.
“But when they declare their accounts they say usd25 000.
“The deposit said they paid US$44, but they only paid US$27 000 and then multiplied that by two,” added the aggrieved parent.
The revelation of this alleged scheme has raised serious concerns about the financial management of UPCSA schools, potentially jeopardizing their operations and students’ education.
When contacted for comment the schools finance director Ncube declined to provide a statement, citing lack of authorization.
“I do not have the authorization to comment on this matter.
“I am driving right now and will avail the contact details of the person authorized to comment on this issue,” Ncube said.
An independent survey revealed significant disparities in the infrastructure between the schools, despite being under the same administration.
Redbank Primary School, in particular, is facing a critical water shortage, posing a serious health risk to students and staff.
The school’s Grade 7 students have achieved a disheartening 0% pass rate.
The stark contrast between the conditions at Robert Sinyoka and Redbank Primary Schools raises questions about whether the same administration is shortchanging certain schools.
