The long-running case involving suspended Kumalo Primary School headmistress Stella Mhlanga has finally come to an end after a Bulawayo court cleared her of all criminal charges related to allegations of embezzling school funds. The verdict brings closure to a matter that has dominated discussions within the city’s education sector for months, generating debate among teachers, parents and School Development Committee (SDC) members.
Mhlanga, who was suspended from her position in July at the height of the controversy, had been accused—alongside several staff members—of misappropriating thousands of dollars belonging to the school. The allegations, first raised early in the year, prompted a Government-led audit and later resulted in the arrest of the headmistress and four colleagues.
However, in his ruling, Bulawayo magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea acquitted Mhlanga, stating that the State had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. He noted that the prosecution’s submissions lacked coherence, relied on speculative conclusions and were unsupported by consistent documentation.
According to Mr Ramaboea, much of the evidence presented did not clearly demonstrate that Mhlanga had personally handled or diverted the funds alleged to be missing. “The inconsistencies in testimony, coupled with incomplete financial documentation, make it impossible to conclude that the accused committed the offences,” he said in his judgment. This decision effectively cleared the headmistress of any criminal wrongdoing.
Kumalo Head Cleared of All Criminal Charges
During the trial, the State called several witnesses, including teachers and members of the SDC. But despite their concerns about financial irregularities, most were unable to produce definitive evidence linking the alleged losses directly to Mhlanga. Audit documents tabled in court also fell short of establishing a traceable pattern of fraudulent activity attributable to her, further weakening the prosecution’s case.
The allegations had painted a picture of a coordinated scheme within the school’s administration, in which Mhlanga and four other employees were said to have embezzled over US$12 000. The matter first surfaced in February when the SDC noticed irregularities in the school’s financial books. This discovery triggered a Government audit, which later led to formal complaints being lodged with police.
At the time of the arrests, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele outlined how the suspected fraud initially came to light. She explained that during a Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education workshop for bursars in Inyathi, facilitators encouraged participants with unbalanced records to come forward. One bursar from Kumalo Primary, identified as Magwaku, reportedly did so, raising suspicions.
According to police, during a break at the workshop, another bursar attempted to follow up with Magwaku regarding the discrepancies, but Magwaku allegedly became evasive. This interaction prompted closer scrutiny upon their return to Kumalo Primary School, where a Government bursar reviewed the school’s financial records and reportedly observed that US$2 000 was missing.
Further examination of the accounts revealed broader concerns involving several staff members. According to the police’s initial findings, it was alleged that Mhlanga had signed for US$7 835 in levy payments but had only deposited US$2 727, with the remaining amount reportedly unaccounted for. Other staff members were also accused of failing to bank funds they had collected, including amounts of US$2 574, US$502, US$1 091 and US$630 attributed to different individuals.
These figures formed the backbone of the State’s case; however, during the trial, defence lawyers argued that the financial records were incomplete, poorly kept and lacked the clarity needed to support criminal charges. Witnesses conceded on several occasions that they could not definitively confirm who handled certain transactions, nor could they produce original receipts or bank slips for all the amounts cited. Ultimately, the magistrate agreed that the gaps and inconsistencies were too significant to sustain a conviction.
The matter had also been formally reported to the police’s Commercial Crimes Unit, with the SDC treasurer, Vimbai Rudenya, filing a complaint under case number CRB 6312/025. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, the case attracted close attention from education authorities and parents concerned about financial accountability within public schools.
Zimbabwe’s Education Act (Chapter 25:04) places clear responsibility on school heads to maintain accurate financial records and ensure all funds are used strictly for institutional purposes. It also requires that financial controls are consistently followed to prevent misuse or mismanagement. While the Act outlines the head’s administrative duties, the court found no evidence that Mhlanga had breached these obligations in a criminal manner.
With her acquittal, Mhlanga’s future in the education sector now rests with administrative processes that may follow, including potential disciplinary reviews or reinstatement considerations. For now, the court’s decision brings relief to her supporters and marks the end of a case that has loomed over Kumalo Primary School for much of the year.
Source- Herald
