THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust)
has suspended its bursar Mr Fortune Nkomo, over allegations of financial misappropriation.
Mr Nkomo was reportedly suspended last Friday for an
initial 60 days while the university conducts internal investigations on a
cocktail of charges that have been laid against him. Chief among the charges is
the construction of eight precast walled classrooms which have since been
condemned by authorities.
The classrooms allegedly cost the institution $700 000 and
after the recent condemnation will now cost the institution $300 000 to safely
demolish. Contacted for comment Nust director of information and public
relations, Mr Felix Moyo said he had been out of office on Friday hence he was
not aware of the suspension.
“I was out of office on Friday I will be at work on Monday,
maybe if you call me then but for now I am not aware of that issue,” said Mr
Moyo.
Efforts to get a comment from his deputy, Mrs Lindiwe Nyoni
were also fruitless as her mobile phone was not being answered.
Sources, however, revealed that Mr Nkomo had allegedly
failed to give answers over the cost of the eight blocks of classrooms and
their eventual condemnation.
“What raised eyebrows is that Mr Nkomo claimed that some of
the materials were bought from Swaziland of which the University Council
questioned how he could get precast wall tiles or window frames from as far as
Swaziland when they are readily available in the country.
The matter was going to go unnoticed but when the
university contracted a local company to do the roofing, the company
immediately raised red flags over the structure which led to authorities
engaging experts who immediately condemned the structures,” said the source.
The source further revealed that questions were also asked
how the structures could have reached roof level without engaging building
inspectors.
“The reason to suspend him for 60 days was meant to
initiate the necessary investigations as there are indications that there could
be a number of matters that have been going unnoticed therefore it is felt he
will interfere with investigations.
As it stands it is more of a suspension pending a full
disciplinary hearing, further it is expected more officials from the bursar’s
department will be suspended in the coming week,” said the source.
When a Sunday News crew visited the institution yesterday
the site of the classrooms had been abandoned, the classrooms structures
themselves are shabby, window frames are not level while the precast walls at
all the classrooms are balanced by wooden trusses to prevent them from falling.
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