-as auditors descend on the school
Roseline Mutare
There was pandemonium and commotion as parents and guardians at Chikato Government School wanted the school head’s head for allegedly presenting doctored end of year financials.
The drama unfolded last Monday during the school’s annual general meeting where parents queried the purchase price of door frames that was put at US$78 each.
The financial statement, which covers the period from January to December 2024, were met with skepticism by parents, who argued that the figures do not reflect the reality on the ground.
A parent who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed her shock and disappointment over the discrepancies in the financial statement.
“We were shocked to see that the school had allocated $235 for three door frames, which works out to $78 each. This is unacceptable, as a survey we conducted revealed that the most expensive door frame costs $38.48,” she said.
Another parent noted that the door frames were just one example of the exaggerated expenses.
“We also noticed that other expenses, such as repair of soccer balls were put at US$1 362, which shocking, it’s just as good as buying new balls were also inflated. We suspect something is not right with these financials,” he said.
“As parents, we have a right to know how our money is being spent. We demand transparency and accountability from the school authorities,” he added.
What also irked the parents was the order by the school head for all the financial statements to be surrendered back to the office upon leaving the venue.
In response to the allegations, school head Stanley Zhonje attributed the discrepancies like door frames to an error made by the accounts clerk.
“Unfortunately, the numbers were exaggerated, and we tried to explain this in a meeting but we assure parents that we are taking steps to correct the mistake,” Zhonje said in an interview with The Midweek Watch.
The controversy surrounding the financial statement has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of school funds.
Meanwhile, this publication is reliably informed that auditors from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education are preparing to visit the school to verify the allegations among other things.
Efforts to get a comment from Masvingo Provincial Education Director Shylatte Mhike were fruitless as she was not picking her mobile phone and messages sent on her whatsapp number were only blue ticked a sign that they have been read, but not replied to.
