A group of teachers has approached Prosecutor-General Loice Matanda-Moyo after vetting officers at Harare Magistrates Court released suspects accused of defrauding them in a housing scheme.
More than 10 teachers, members of the Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ), had travelled from Gokwe to Harare for their case against suspended president Tafadzwa Munodawafa and secretary-general Tafadzwa Zhou, who face charges of misappropriating union funds.
The teachers, represented by Shelton Linde, allege the release of the suspects may have been influenced by an exchange of money. They said:
“We, the complainants from Gokwe South, write with deep grievance and utmost urgency regarding the manner in which our case number (CR 304/06/25/KOPIE DR104/06/25) was handled by the prosecutors assigned to vet our matter.
“To our dismay, instead of being afforded our constitutional right to a fair hearing before the courts, we were directed to restitute the accused persons outside the judicial process.
“This was done without our voices being heard and without the matter being placed before a competent court of law.
“We strongly suspect that this irregularity was influenced by an improper exchange of money to conceal the theft committed against us.”
The teachers said that, as a matter of natural justice, the other side should have been heard, but argued that they were denied this fundamental legal right. The EUZ members said:
“Yet in this matter, we, the complainants, were denied this basic legal right. The accused persons were allowed to walk scot free, while we, the victims, were left without remedy.
“We perceive elements of abuse of prosecutorial discretion, as every effort to recover what is due to us has been frustrated.
“We are also disturbed by the actions of the so-called ‘verifiers’, who dismissed the case without giving us an audience.
“Is it truly within their lawful duty to dismiss a matter of this nature without a hearing? If so, where does that leave the rights of complainants and the integrity of the justice system?”
The teachers said they had travelled overnight from Gokwe, hoping to secure justice, only to have their case dismissed at verification, leaving them feeling abandoned by the system.
They urged the Prosecutor-General to reopen the matter so it can be properly heard in a competent court and the accused prosecuted according to the law.
Munodawafa and Zhou are accused of swindling teachers of their contributions, discovered after a bank account used for the funds was closed. Three members have reportedly been refunded.
Munodawafa was recently convicted in Bulawayo for theft of trust property after converting union funds meant for a member to her own use.
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