Zengeza 4 High School Deputy Head Faces Bribery Ch...

Zengeza 4 High School Deputy Head Faces Bribery Charges

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Court Correspondent

The deputy head of Zengeza 4 High School, Patricia Mwaruta ,51, has been summoned before the courts on charges of bribery.

Mwaruta appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Court where she was charged with soliciting a bribe. She is set to return to court on April 2 for further proceedings.

According to the State, in January 2025, the complainant, a contractor, learned that the Zengeza 4 High School's School Development Committee was seeking quotations for the drilling of a borehole, solar installation, and the installation of a 5,000-liter tank with a 4-meter tank stand at the school.

The complainant, through his company, submitted a quotation on January 9, 2025, via the SDC office.

Two weeks after submitting his quotation, the complainant received a call from Patricia Mwaruta, inviting him for an interview. At the interview, which took place towards the end of January 2025, Mwaruta informed him that his quotation had been successful, and he was instructed to begin the borehole drilling and solar installation project. The entire project was estimated to cost US$4 600.

On February 4, 2025, the complainant received the first deposit of US$1,500 and completed drilling 60 meters of the borehole, which matched the deposited amount.

However, upon requesting the balance to continue the work and drill the borehole to a depth of 80 to 90 meters, which was the minimum requirement, Mwaruta allegedly solicited a bribe of USD$400 from the complainant, threatening that the contract would be cancelled if the bribe was not paid.

The complainant, feeling compelled to report the matter, lodged a formal complaint with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission ZACC.

In response, ZACC officers set up a sting operation, which led to Mwaruta's arrest after she allegedly received US$200 in bribe money at Zengeza 4 High School.