A 28-year-old former school clerk has been sentenced to an effective 10 months in prison after the Hwange Magistrates’ Court convicted her of stealing US$2,055 from Dopota Primary School, where she was employed.
Hezel Nyoni, of Dete, was found guilty of taking the money from the school safe and withholding receipts from fees she had collected.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the theft came to light on June 5, 2026, when the school’s deputy headmaster, Sheba Nkomo, went to the safe to collect money for banking. Nyoni told her the cash had already been withdrawn after taking the safe keys from Nkomo’s office without her knowledge and removing US$1,100.
Nkomo immediately reported the matter to the school administrator, triggering an internal audit on June 8, 2026. The audit uncovered a further shortfall of US$955 in withheld receipts, bringing the total loss to US$2,055. Police were called in and arrested Nyoni.
She has since repaid US$600, leaving US$1,455 outstanding.
The court sentenced Nyoni to 26 months’ imprisonment. Eight months were suspended for five years on condition she does not commit a similar offence, while a further eight months were suspended on condition she restitutes the outstanding US$1,455 to the school. She will serve an effective 10 months.