Parents and guardians of pupils at Kumalo Primary School have expressed deep concern over the continued presence of the school’s headmistress, Stella Mhlanga, despite serious allegations of embezzling school funds.
Mhlanga, along with four other staff members, was taken into custody on 14 April 2025 in connection with the alleged embezzlement, following a government-led audit prompted by concerns raised by the School Development Committee (SDC). The SDC had flagged financial irregularities in the school’s records as early as February.
The subsequent audit revealed substantial issues with the school’s financial management, leading to the arrests. Bail for the accused is reportedly set for 28 May 2025.
Despite these developments, Mhlanga remains in her post, a situation that has provoked outrage among parents, who are now calling on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to intervene.
Speaking to CITE, one concerned parent, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the headmistress should have been suspended pending the outcome of the case. Said the parent:
Why is Mhlanga still at work when she has a pending case? She should have been suspended until the matter is resolved. It is unacceptable for her to remain in office while facing such serious charges.
Another parent also voiced concern over Mhlanga’s continued presence at the school, questioning why no disciplinary action had been taken despite the gravity of the allegations. The parent said:
It is deeply concerning that Mhlanga remains in her position while serious questions are being raised. As parents, we expect accountability and transparency from those entrusted with our children’s education.
When contacted for comment, Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Bernard Mazambani confirmed that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had initiated disciplinary proceedings against the headmistress. He said:
While the police are following their own procedures, we have disciplinary processes already under way. Investigations have been made, In fact, there are now two cases at Kumalo.
The first is that the lady (Mhlanga) has been charged and we received notification for a hearing just this last week from head office.
The second case involves money issues where she was taken to the police by the SDC. As (for) education, we have our own way of carrying out investigations.”
Mazambani said the province had actually recommended suspending Mhlanga while the cases were being dealt with, but that decision was later overturned by the Ministry’s head office.
Just last week, the Ministry sent a team of investigators from Matabeleland North to the school. The team held a meeting with the School Development Committee (SDC) and some of the staff involved in the allegations. Mhlanga, however, didn’t attend the meeting.
Back in 2024, Mhlanga had already been suspended once, from 14 August to November, while facing a disciplinary hearing.
During that time, the Ministry appointed deputy head Eneles Sibanda to act as head until the issue was sorted.
Surprisingly, Mhlanga was reinstated on 4 September 2024 under unclear circumstances, even before her suspension period was up.
Her disciplinary hearing, which was meant to happen on 29 August, never went ahead because the committee chair, Lameck Mudyiwa, failed to show up without giving any reason.
Back in 2021, SMhlanga made headlines for the wrong reasons when a nude photo, reportedly showing her privates, went viral on social media. The photo had apparently been posted by mistake on her WhatsApp status.
Realising the error, Mhlanga is said to have taken the image down quickly. However, by then, some of her contacts, including teachers and parents from her school, had already saved the picture and forwarded it to others.
Following a police investigation, Mhlanga was arrested, and her Samsung Galaxy Note (model N910F) was seized and taken to the station. The phone was later sent to the CID National Cyber Forensics Laboratory in Bulawayo for examination.
During the forensic checks, investigators reportedly found four pornographic images on the device.
Mhlanga was charged under Section 26 of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act [Chapter 10:04], which relates to possession of prohibited material. However, in April 2022, she was acquitted of the charge of posting pornographic content on WhatsApp.
In her defence, represented by lawyer Byron Sengweni of Sengweni Legal Practice, Mhlanga argued that she was never in possession of any pornographic content.
She argued that the phone had originally belonged to her sister, Sibusisiwe Moyo, who lives in South Africa. Mhlanga said her sister had wiped the phone’s memory before handing it over, and that it contained no such material when she received it.
Magistrate Marygold Ndlovu ruled in her favour, stating that the State had failed to prove the key elements of the charge.
More: CITE
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