The Special
Financial Review and Forensic Audit, conducted between January and April 2024,
revealed a complex web of theft and deception.
The audit
report shows that Mabhiza demonstrated “clear
criminal intention” to defraud the company, while Father Nyanga allegedly acted
in complicity. Despite the severity of the allegations, Father Nyanga has been
reassigned within the diocese, raising questions about accountability.
Clare Fashions
Pvt Ltd, a private company wholly owned by the Catholic Diocese of Mutare,
generates revenue primarily from selling uniforms in Roman Catholic-owned
schools.
The report
reads: “(a). Prematurely dismissing the AA (administrative assistant), before
the onset of investigations. (b). Gross negligence in accounting for both
collections and safe draw-downs. While our procedures cannot conclusively
pin-point the principal perpetrator nor quantify the loss attached to each
party, we note a very strong causal relationship between the AA and the MD’s
offices, enough to largely account for the $37 964 loss, above.”
The rot at Clare Fashions has also exposed financial irregularities plaguing some Roman Catholic Diocese of Mutare schools, including St Judes in Nyazura, Regina Coeli in Nyanga, Charles Lwanga in Chimanimani and Mweyamutsvene in Mutare rural.
At Charles
Lwanga, the priest who was representing the Responsible Authority, Father Owold
Saunyama was reportedly transferred to St Therese in Makoni following the
unearthing of financial irregularities.
When contacted
for comment, the Education Director of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mutare,
Father Philip Kembo said: “As a church, we have the principle of subsidiarity
as a pillar in social justice. This means we utilise existing lower systems to
handle matters before involving civil authorities, depending on the nature of
the issue.
“In the event
of the two mentioned schools (St Judes and Regina Coeli), the church had
internal audits, and then handed over the matters to the Ministry of Primary
and Secondary Education for external audits. These were done and as per the
system, one is given time to respond and then a final report is issued. So, the
diocese is not protecting anyone, but just following the laid down laws that
have to be adhered to after audits. In the interest of justice and protection
of public funds, the diocese will work hand-in-glove with the ministry to
initiate legal procedures to recover the lost public funds.”
He added: “The
church is not protecting anyone, my brother; but it is also important to listen
even to the accused person in the interest of justice. We act and advise SDCs,
and those involved to act accordingly and not abruptly, to avoid future
lawsuits on defamation and others.” Manica Post
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