A Kwekwe High School teacher, Dicosta Zimhende, has been suspended for demanding US$750 from parents to secure Form One places for their children.
Zimhende, a History teacher, was allegedly working in cahoots with a School Development Committee (SDC) clerk, Sham Mwarowa, who has also been suspended to pave way for investigations.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communication and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro confirmed the development saying the matter was also reported to the police. Ndoro said:
The case was reported to the ZRP fraud section and we are still awaiting outcome. Investigations by the ministry are ongoing and the teacher was charged and suspended. Police are saying the outcome is still pending so we keep waiting.
It is alleged that Zimhende and Mwarowa demanded money ranging from US$80 to US$750 from parents and guardians who would then be directed to the clerk to make payments and get receipts and other requirements.
The Chronicle reports that the issue came to light on the opening day when school authorities discovered that there was an extra class of about 30 pupils, prompting the school head Mr Nelson Shumba to launch an investigation.
More: Chronicle