A SCHOOL Development Committee (SDC) treasurer at an elite primary school in Harare has been accused of embezzling over $20 000 from the institution.
BY Staff Reporter
A dossier sent to the Harare provincial education director by parents at Louis Mountbatten School alleged that SDC treasurer, one Mahoya, failed to account for over $20 000 in the 2014 financial year. The parents were demanding a forensic audit into the matter. “A look at audited financial statements will clearly reveal that the following … under the income section, it is stated that project levy collected for the period Jan- December 2014 totalled $117 200, implying that a total of 1 172 pupils had paid the special levy as at December 31 2014,” read part of the document submitted to the government for perusal and action.
“Under the subsection bank and cash balances, it is further stated that as at December 31 the bank balance for the project levy account held at CBZ was $1 310 while under sub-section of capital expenditure, a total $97 175 is said to have been used to finance the project during the period.”
The parents added: “Now if a total of $117 200 was collected for the ECD (Early Childhood Development) block and out of this $97 175 was used to finance the project, then logically one would expect a bank balance of at most $20 020 as at December 31 after the course taking into account bank charges.”
The letter directed to the provincial schools director said parents strongly believed that the funds for the ECD project were used recklessly for some individuals’ personal gains. “We, therefore, recommend that a fresh and independent audit of this project be instituted as a matter of urgency,” the parents demanded.
However, the treasurer last week refused to comment on the issue saying: “I need clearance from the Ministry of Education to talk to the press”.
Earlier, Mahoya had promised to respond to the allegations even to the extent of inviting NewsDay to the school, only to change at the last minute saying he had no authority to respond to the media. Besides the financial matters, some parents were not happy with the elections of the school development association headed by one Nyahodza G, alleging that they (members) were voted into office illegally.
