Delight Nyasha Guma
BINDURA, Zimbabwe — A Bindura magistrate has convicted Kudakwashe Tivarige, 35, headmaster of Sunrise Group of Schools in Maravanyika Village, Chief Masembura, for theft of trust property after he diverted US$792 meant for the 2025 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Grade Seven exam fees.
Between February 2024 and January 2025, 12 pupils paid their ZIMSEC fees through the school accounts office.
Directors instructed Tivarige to register the pupils at Dengu Primary because Sunrise is not an exam centre.
Instead, he kept the money and told the parents that registration had been done at Maravanyika Primary.
“The fraud came to light when school director Martha Masiachengo checked with ZIMSEC and learned no registrations had been made,” read part of a statement by the National Prosecuting Authority.
“A report to ZRP Manhenga led to Tivarige’s arrest. Authorities said none of the funds were recovered.”
The court sentenced Tivarige to 12 months in prison.
Three months were suspended for good behaviour, and another three months were suspended on condition he restitutes US$292.
The remaining six months were converted to 245 hours of community service at Manhenga Clinic.
In April this year, the headmaster of Dombojena Primary School in Shurugwi, Emmanuel Hove (52), was brought before the Shurugwi Magistrates’ Court, accused of fraudulently using US$1,745 that had been collected from 77 candidates for their November ZIMSEC examination fees.
Last year, Ivyluck College headmaster, Tafadzwa Chikohora (31), was dragged to court accused of stealing examination fees intended for three students who were set to sit for their ZIMSEC O’ Level examinations in November 2024.
