Three Mutoko teachers in the dock for exam fraud

Two senior teachers from Katsande Secondary School and another from Chikukwa Secondary appeared before Mutoko resident magistrate on Tuesday facing charges of Criminal Abuse of Duty as a Public Officer.

They were separately joined in the dock by the wife of one of the three teachers, who is facing charges of Conspiracy to Commit a Crime of Sitting for an Examination with intention to impersonate another.

Jackson Chibisa, 45, a headmaster at Katsande Secondary, his deputy Douglas Maquina, 39, and their colleague Timothy Mavariro, 30, a headmaster at Chikukwa Secondary knitted a ”deal” in which they were to facilitate the writing of a June Zimsec Ordinary Level Mathematics Paper for Violet Chikaripo (wife of Douglas Maquina) in her absence.

She is believed to have made five attempts to write Mathematics but without success. Dumisani Mlambo, a temporary mathematics teacher at Chikukwa Secondary was deployed at Katsande Secondary by his ”master” to go and ”finish” the job on Tuesday June 4 2013.

Things fell apart when Mlambo was caught red handed by Zimsec officials from Marondera ”sitting” on Violet Chikaripo’s paper. It is not clear how the Zimsec officials came to intercept the deal.

It is understood the scandal had been exchanging ears for some time at the school which prompted others to give a tip off. A reliable source said Mlambo was to pocket $70 for his part. Mlambo appeared before the court last week and admitted to his charge. He was given time to pay a fine of $200.

The four, who were being represented by Mr Kasuso, had their lawyer’s $50 bail application dismissed by Mutoko resident magistrate Mr Marecha, although it was not opposed by prosecutor Mr Gumbo. The four were remanded out of custody to June 28 on $200 bail each with the following conditions

:Accused shall (1) reside at their respective schools,

(2) surrender their travel documents at Clerk Of Court, Mutoko

(3) report at CID Mutoko every Friday between 0600hrs and 1800hrs and

(4) not to interfere with state witnesses until their matter is finalised.