School Officials Sentenced to Community Service for Abuse of Duty in Chiredzi District.  

In a recent ruling, the head and deputy head of a secondary school in Chiredzi District have been sentenced to 420 hours of community service after unlawfully enrolling their children in the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

The two school officials faced charges of criminal abuse of duty in the Triangle Magistrates’ Court. They were found guilty and initially sentenced to 20 months in prison, of which 6 months were suspended for five years. Additionally, two months of their sentence were suspended on the condition that they reimburse the Social Services Department for their actions. The remaining 12 months were suspended contingent on the completion of community service hours.

The case came to light when the Criminal Investigation Department in Triangle received an anonymous tip-off regarding the officials’ misconduct. Investigations followed, leading to their arrest. The State presented evidence that the two men had deprived the Social Services Department of $120 each for the year 2022 by enrolling their children in the program without following the proper procedures.

This decision serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in public service and the consequences of abusing positions of authority.