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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 27932, member: 2262"] The court has charged Liniah Chinoda with falsely claiming $600 for travel expenses. She works as the Provincial Finance Director at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The money came from the Better Schools Programme Fund, which schools across the district contribute to. Officials suspended Tapiwa Mapindani, who handles accounting for Chivi District Education. He reportedly refused to process the fake expense claim Chinoda submitted. Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi heard the case Friday. Lawyer Yolander Chandata from H Tafa and Associates represents Chinoda. The court released her until her next appearance on March 19. Prosecutors say Chinoda worked at events in Bikita, Gutu, and Zaka when she claimed to attend something in Chivi. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission discovered this fraud during their investigation. On January 20, 2024, Chinoda broke the rules about her job duties. She failed to keep accurate financial records and turned in forms with missing information about her travel expenses. Chinoda allegedly gave her $600 claim to Evershine Ndongwe, who runs the Chivi District Schools. Ndongwe then pushed Mapindani to include it with money being taken out for the Chivi Accounts Verification process. This October 2023 verification checked records for people who actually attended the event. Chinoda had no right to this money since she never joined the verification work. The district accountant approved $5,290 from the Chivi BSPZ bank account, part of which went toward Chinoda's fake travel claim. Both Chinoda and Ndongwe reportedly bullied Mapindani with threats. They pressured him to approve the unauthorized payment and threatened to fire him when he refused to process the baseless claim. Officials later suspended him. This case raises serious concerns about power abuse and financial wrongdoing within the Ministry. Investigators continue looking into additional details. The matter highlights problems with oversight and accountability for education funds meant to support student programs rather than pad official expense accounts. [/QUOTE]

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