The Sunday News
ONE of the city’s most expensive private schools, Masiyephambili College, has reportedly fired its headmaster over allegations of misappropriating school funds amounting to more than $50 000 among other offences, Sunday News can reveal.
The headmaster, Mr Ben Moyo, is also said to have received many complaints involving him sexually harassing female colleagues at the school, leading to his initial suspension pending a full hearing by the school board.
According to sources at the private school, Mr Moyo had been on suspension for the entire second term while investigations were being conducted and the board running the school eventually fired him a couple of weeks ago.
He is alleged to have misappropriated the $50 000 over an unknown period of time, with the offence coming to light only after an internal audit.
“The initial hearing was held on Tuesday 15 July and the verdict came out a week later, where Mr Moyo was eventually fired from his position. The deputy headmaster will act in the position until a time when a new headmaster will be appointed.
“What happened is that he was initially offered a package, which he vehemently turned down insisting his innocence arguing that the board had a personal vendetta against him,” said the source.
When Sunday News contacted Mr Moyo he said while he had heard rumours of his alleged dismissal from office, what he was aware of was that he was on leave pending the outcome of the hearing.
“I might have heard something like that but the fact on the ground is that I am still an employee at the college. I am only on leave pending the outcome of the results of the hearing, I am not fired,” said the embattled head master.
Questioned further, Mr Moyo was not forthcoming on the charges against him insisting that the board had the final say.
“I am simply waiting for the board to communicate with me, they are the best to talk to at the moment, not me,” said the headmaster.
He refused to comment on whether he had been offered a package or not.
Mr Israel Sibanda, the Masiyephambili School Trust Board chairperson, declined comment claiming that he was not aware of any disciplinary hearing or possible suspension of the headmaster.
“That is nonsense, I don’t know anything. I don’t even know what you are talking about, please don’t trouble me,” said Mr Sibanda before hanging up the phone.
The board is responsible for the running of both Masiyephambili College and Junior School.
The deputy headmaster, only identified as Mr P Dube, who has reportedly taken over the reins at the school, was also incensed when questioned on the matter, telling this reporter to go and get the facts of the story from his sources.
“Go back to your sources and tell them to give you a comment because I am not allowed to talk about that matter. If possible talk to the board. I believe they are the ones handling the matter and can be in a position to give you a comment,” said the deputy headmaster.
The Masiyephambili School Trust was set up in September 1989 with a principal objective to provide quality education at primary secondary and tertiary level, with the initial establishment of the junior school before establishing Masiyephambili College to offer secondary education.
