THE foiled demonstration by Zanu PF activists at Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College on Thursday has come with heavy a cost for the college’s acting principal Patrick Chinhoro, who has been transferred from the tertiary institution with immediate effect.
EVERSON MUSHAVA/EDGAR GWESHE
On Thursday, anti-riot police blocked a demonstration by Zanu PF Harare Central One District activists who were calling for the ouster of Permanent Secretary for Higher ad Tertiary Education, Washington Mbizvo, accusing him of ruining tertiary education in the country.
The activists, who included the Zanu PF-affiliated Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union, also said they were irked by the “political victimisation” of Chinhoro by Mbizvo for having unearthed corrupt activities involving huge sums of dollars by his lieutenants.
Yesterday, two Higher Education ministry officials in the company of anti-riot police swooped at the college in the early morning and to deliver the reassignment letter.
They demanded that Chinhoro hands over to new principal, Jason Muhwandi, who was Mutare Teachers’ College principal.
“Please be advised that at a meeting held on 4 September 2014, the Commission reassigned you, Mr Chinhoro, to head office,” the letter, dated September 5, reads.
The letter was signed by human resources director in the Higher Education ministry, an L Mudyiwa, on behalf of Mbizvo. “You are to assume duty as chief science and technology officer with immediate effect. You will maintain your pay-point, salary and allowances,” the letter further read.
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“The Commission further declared itself the Disciplinary Authority in terms of Section 42 of the Public Service Regulations, 2000 as amended. You shall be advised of the composition of the DC in due course.”
A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General showed that Belvedere Teachers’ College could have been prejudiced of more than $500 000 between 2009 and 2012 through the issuance of fraudulent receipts and breach of procurement procedures.
The report also claims some students were paying bribes to collect results without paying full fees.
John Dhewa, an official in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, who was part of the team that delivered the transfer letter to Chinhoro, said he was unaware of the development when he was reached for comment.
He, however, later on called back and said that it was not proper for him to divulge details of Chinhoro’s transfer over the phone. Chinhoro said he was in a meeting when he was contacted for comment.
Zanu PF chairperson for Harare Central District One, Abraham Samushonga, who led the group of activists that intended to demonstrate at Belvedere, was yesterday summoned by the ZRP’s Law and Order Section.
Samushonga told NewsDay that the police wanted to enquire on details of Thursday’s foiled demonstration. He was released after some time of questioning.
