BULAWAYO Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) has petitioned the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) to investigate alleged corruption in the administration of the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) and the Harmonised Social Cash Transfer Programme (Hsctp).
Report by Blondie Ndebele
BPRA spokesperson Emmanuel Ndlovu said their petition was meant to force Zacc to investigate and put to rest allegations of underhand dealings and corruption in the administration of the two education support programmes to promote transparency and accountability in the operations of public institutions.
The association said in a statement that they found irregularities in the administration of the two programmes in a probe they conducted in 2012.
“The intended beneficiaries alleged that they were being fleeced of their handouts with school heads, influential teachers and school development committee members allegedly using their influence to enlist their kith and kin who don’t need educational assistance,” Ndlovu said.
The Hsctp is a social welfare project run by the Ministry of Labour and Social Services and is aimed at alleviating poverty through financial support to households living in extreme poverty.
Beam is a social welfare programme within the same ministry that supports poor and vulnerable children with school fees.
He said the two letters, dated February 26, were addressed to Zacc general manager Chris Chisango to ensure that the two social welfare programmes adequately benefit the intended beneficiaries, the underprivileged and vulnerable people.
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Zacc spokesperson Goodwin Shana confirmed receiving the petition on Friday.
“We got the petition today (Friday) and we have responded,” Shana said. “The good thing about their report is that it is detailed and makes it easy for us to make follow-ups on it.”
