HARARE, Zimbabwe – A high school head in Harare has been arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of US$84,000 in school funds.
Tayengwa Christopher Maponga, head of Friendship High School, was taken into custody last Monday following a complaint filed at Borrowdale Police Station under case number CR 03/12/25.
Maponga was arrested along with Milcah Machi and Tendai Kuhudzayi, while bursar Tichaona Kunyenda remains at large. Machi, currently heading Girls High School, previously led Friendship High before Maponga. Kuhudzayi, a former deputy head at Friendship High, has been suspended by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and Kunyenda is believed to have fled following the complaint.
The accused are alleged to have misappropriated school funds totaling US$84,000. The case has been referred to the Commercial Crimes Division (Northern Region) for further investigation.
The matter surfaced after Samasave Security Services reported that Friendship High failed to pay US$6,050 for services rendered. The company accused Maponga of allegedly running the school “like a private firm or tuckshop” and escalated the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Association of Zimbabwe and relevant education authorities.
In a letter dated August 5, 2025, Samasave warned Maponga that correspondence alone was insufficient and emphasized the need for action to recover the funds, insisting the matter be taken to the highest offices in the country.
The accused are expected to appear in court soon.
