A MABVAZUVA Primary School headmaster who violated tenets
of good corporate governance by single handedly picking a company to supply an
assortment of ICT equipment, instead of going to tender, was last Thursday
convicted of criminal abuse of office and jailed for three years.
Benson Matare, (59), was posted to the school by the
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education three years ago following his
demotion from the position of Makoni district deputy schools inspector due a
number of alleged scandals. He was found guilty of violating tender procedures
and his incarceration has send jitters in the education sector in the district.
He will, however, serve an effective two years behind bars
after the magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera suspended one year of the initial
sentence on usual conditions. Matare, who was represented by an unnamed
Harare-based lawyer, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He has since instructed his lawyer to lodge an appeal
against both conviction and sentence at the High Court.
Matare was convicted after a full trial which saw
incriminating evidence being adduced from his subordinates and officials from
the parent ministry.
Matare awarded a contract worth $42 837, 00 to Lifemark
Computers Pvt without following proper tender procedures.
Prosecutor Mr Gift Mtigwa told the court that Matare was
supposed to source for three competitive quotations from different suppliers.
He instead hand-picked Lifemark Computers Pvt. In so doing
he usurped the powers of the sub-procurement of the School Development
Committee (SDC) which is mandated at law to preside over the supplier selection
process and compile a comparative schedule justifying its decision.
“Sometime in October 2017, the parents with students
enrolled at Mabvazuva Primary school resolved to acquire computer laboratory
equipment comprising of 40 modern computers and nine interactive smart boards
affixed with projectors.
“Matare, as the headmaster had the mandate to spearhead the
process of acquiring the said computer laboratory equipment. Instead of
advertising for at least three competitive quotations from different suppliers
for the supply of the equipment, since the purchases were above the $10 000
stipulated at law, Matare hand-picked and entered into a contract with Lifemark
Computers Pvt to supply the equipment at a cost of $42 837, 00.
“This was contrary or inconsistent with accused’s duties as
a public officer. The offence came to light sometime in April 2018 when
numerous complaints of misappropriation of funds at the school were received by
the Makoni district schools inspector Nathaniel Machini,” said Mr Mtigwa.
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