Avondale Primary Deputy Headmistress Charged with ...

Avondale Primary Deputy Headmistress Charged with Abuse of Office Over Unlawful Procurement

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

The deputy headmistress of Avondale Primary School has been brought before the court on charges of criminal abuse of office.

Roselyn Boroma, 60, appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts before Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa. She faces charges of violating her official duties and was granted bail of US$100.

Boroma is scheduled to return to court on November 12, 2024.

The allegations stem from a report made by Beaular Murwira, the Teacher in Charge of the Infant Department at Avondale Primary, who was serving as the acting headmistress at the time of the incident.

As a government-run institution, Avondale Primary School is subject to the procurement regulations outlined in the Procurement Act. According to these procedures, when goods or services are needed, the school's user department must submit a requisition to both the Procurement and Finance Departments. Once these departments make their recommendations, the requisition is then approved by the accounting officer, which, in this case, would be the headmaster.

The prosecution, led by Lancelot Mutsokoti, alleges that in 2023, the Sports Department at Avondale Primary School required new basketball and netball goalposts. The head of the Sports Department, Shuvai Stella Zhanje, informed Boroma of the need for the equipment.

However, Boroma is accused of bypassing standard procurement procedures. She allegedly handpicked Framatic Engineering Private Limited to supply and install the equipment without consulting the user department, Procurement Department, or the headmistress.

The sports equipment, valued at US$1,780, was installed at the school’s playing grounds, surprising the Sports Department as they had not submitted a formal requisition for the items.

The irregularity was reported to the headmistress and the School Development Committee, leading to a police investigation.

Boroma's actions are alleged to have been inconsistent with her duties as a public officer, with the intent of granting undue favor to Framatic Engineering Private Limited.