An ongoing corruption scheme has been siphoning approximately $100,000 annually from each of nine schools under the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), according to an internal investigation.
The schools implicated include David Livingstone Memorial Primary and Secondary Schools, Gloag Ranch Primary and High Schools, and several others.
Sources within the schools allege that the scheme is being orchestrated by a cartel led by Sithulile Ncube, the finance director, and Reverend Moyo. The cartel is reportedly involved in financial misconduct, including duplicated transactions, inflated pricing, and unauthorized spending.
For example, two school buses were purchased at an inflated price of $200,000 each, resulting in a loss of $65,000. Similarly, two GD6 vehicles were bought without proper authorization, with the school falsely claiming the church had approved the purchases.
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Parents and school officials, alarmed by the extent of financial losses, have been attempting to bring the scandal to light, but it has largely remained under wraps. In November 2023, the School Development Committee’s treasurer identified suspicious entries in the accounts, further exposing the magnitude of the fraud.
Despite efforts to involve the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the investigation has been slow-moving, further compounding the frustrations of parents and school stakeholders.
One aggrieved parent highlighted that in just three months, Gloag Ranch Primary alone had lost $42,000, and this pattern appears to extend across the other schools as well.
The financial mismanagement is also reflected in the dire conditions at some schools. Redbank Primary School is facing a critical water shortage, creating a health hazard for students, while its Grade 7 students have recorded a zero percent pass rate, raising concerns about the overall administration’s priorities.
When contacted, Sithulile Ncube declined to comment, citing a lack of authorization to speak on the matter.
The revelations have sparked serious concerns about the impact of the alleged misappropriation of funds on the sustainability of UPCSA schools and the quality of education provided to students.
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