A 64-year-old senior administration officer Frank Nyama working under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) in Mashonaland Central province has been convicted and sentenced for defrauding the government through a scheme involving fraudulent travel and subsistence allowance claims.
The convicted official, Frank Nyama, was sentenced to a one-year prison term by Bindura magistrate Elisha Singano on Friday. However, in a partial reprieve, five months of the sentence were conditionally suspended, leaving him to serve an effective seven months behind bars—pending good behavior and no repeat offense within a specified period.
According to state prosecutor Carson Kundiona, the incident occurred in 2024 when Nyama submitted a falsified Travel and Subsistence claim form to the Ministry. He claimed that he had undertaken official trips to five districts within the province—namely Guruve, Mount Darwin, Mazowe, Rushinga, and Shamva—for the purpose of conducting asset inspections at schools and various district education offices.
However, investigations later revealed that Nyama had not made those trips as he claimed. Instead, he had fabricated the travel records to fraudulently claim government allowances intended to cover meals, accommodation, and transport for legitimate official journeys. In his submission, he presented the trips as part of a continuous journey, which allowed him to inflate the figures and maximize the entitlements.
By consolidating what were presented as sequential district visits, he claimed expenses amounting to US$1,670. This figure covered multiple meals per day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—as well as overnight accommodation costs, which he was not entitled to. The nature of the forged documentation suggested premeditation, as he included forged signatures and fabricated dates to make the travel log appear authentic.
Frank Nyama’s actions came to light during a routine internal audit carried out by the Ministry’s provincial office. The auditors noticed discrepancies in his itinerary, particularly inconsistencies with vehicle logbooks and records from the offices he allegedly visited. Further inquiries revealed that no asset inspections had been scheduled during the period he claimed to have travelled, and officials in the mentioned districts confirmed they had not hosted him.
As the case proceeded, Frank Nyama failed to provide any substantial evidence to justify the allowances he claimed. Under cross-examination, he was unable to produce supporting documentation such as transport requisition forms, hotel receipts, or official letters authorizing the trip. His failure to verify the authenticity of his claims further exposed the fraudulent nature of his actions.
In delivering his ruling, Magistrate Singano emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the breach of public trust involved. He noted that as a senior government employee, Frank Nyama was expected to lead by example and uphold the values of honesty and accountability. Instead, he chose to manipulate the system for personal gain, thereby undermining the integrity of the public service.
Frank Nyama Jailed for Falsifying documents
“The government relies on public officers to administer resources honestly and responsibly,” Magistrate Singano said. “Fraud of this nature not only results in financial prejudice to the State but also erodes public confidence in government institutions.”
Although Frank Nyama’s legal counsel pleaded for leniency, citing his age and long service in the civil sector, the magistrate ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary to deter similar offenses among public officials. Nonetheless, he suspended five months of the sentence on the condition that Nyama does not commit a similar offense within the next five years.
The case has sparked renewed calls for tighter internal controls within government ministries, especially regarding the processing of travel and subsistence claims. Civil society organizations and anti-corruption watchdogs have urged the government to implement digital tracking systems and demand stricter accountability from civil servants handling public funds.
Meanwhile, MoPSE has reportedly launched a broader investigation into travel claims submitted over the past year, particularly in provinces where audit red flags have emerged. A ministry spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that other officers could be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of similar fraud is uncovered.
Frank Nyama, who had worked for the Ministry for over three decades, now faces not only the personal consequences of a criminal conviction but also the likely termination of his employment and the forfeiture of pension and other retirement benefits. His case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of corruption in the public sector.
Source – Bulawayo 24
