The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
THE head of Townsend High School in Bulawayo, Mrs Millicent Moyo, has reportedly failed to return devices which she controversially auctioned last year despite a Government directive to do so. Mrs Moyo controversially conducted an auction in November last year for devices among them cellphones which she had confiscated from schoolchildren. The auction saw some parents, teachers and outsiders who managed to sneak into the School Development Committee meeting buying modern smartphones like Samsung S4s, Blackberries, Android and Nokia Windows phones for as little as $15 with the most expensive going for $20. Normally the price of smartphones start from $100.
Although Mrs Moyo has vehemently refused to talk to the media on many occasions regarding the issue, sources at the school revealed that the school authorities were struggling to recover the auctioned cellphones.
“It was always impossible for the school to recover all those cellphones because in some cases they were bought by people who were not even linked with the school hence it became difficult to trace them,” said the source.
It is further alleged that the school was forced to defer a meeting with parents that was scheduled for November last year to a date yet to be announced fearing a backlash from parents.
“The head hoped that by the time they call the next meeting they would have recovered all the cellphones so as it stands they are now not sure what to do as eventually the School Development Committee has to meet,” said the source.
Contacted for comment Bulawayo provincial education director Mr Dan Moyo said while he was not aware whether Mrs Moyo has managed to recover and subsequently return the cellphones, his office has advised her to apply to the Government especially regarding cellphones that belonged to pupils that had left the school.
“What happened there is we advised her to apply to treasury (Ministry of Finance) in terms of how she could dispose cellphones that belonged to pupils that had left the school because as a civil servant she cannot just unilaterally hold an auction, there are clear procedures to be followed. Regarding the issue of returning cellphones of pupils who are still with the school I will have to consult with my officers who will engage the school,” said Mr Moyo.
When the story broke out it was later reported that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango, had instructed Mr Moyo to investigate the matter and come up with a report so that her office could take the necessary action.
