Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
A 35-year-old headmaster from Bindura will perform 245 hours of community service after he stole US$792 meant for the 2025 Grade Seven examination fees for 12 pupils.
Kudakwashe Tivarige (35) was the headmaster at Sunrise Group of Schools in Maravanyika Village, Chief Masembura, Bindura.
He was arrested for theft of trust property after he diverted US$792 for exam fees paid by the 12 pupils between February 2024 and January 2025 through the school’s accounts office.
The school directors instructed him to register the pupils at Dengu Primary, as Sunrise Group of Schools is not an examination centre.
Instead, he pocketed the money, falsely claiming the pupils had been registered to write the examinations at Maravanyika Primary School.
The fraud was exposed when school director Ms Martha Masiachengo verified with ZIMSEC and discovered the pupils had not been registered.
A police report was made at ZRP Manhenga, leading to Tivarige’s arrest. Nothing was recovered.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with three months suspended on condition of good behaviour and a further three months suspended if he restitutes the US$792.
The remaining six months were converted to 245 hours of community service at Manhenga Clinic.