A female teacher at St Joseph’s High School in Mutare was arrested on Thursday for allegedly defrauding two women of US$1,100 in total by promising them teaching jobs.
The accused, Melline Chirinda, 40, works for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. She was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and appeared at Mutare Magistrates’ Court on Friday. She faces two counts of fraud.
According to the arrest memo, Chirinda allegedly posed as “Ms Martin” in January 2025. She told Mercylyn Gonouya, 34, from Chigodora, that she could get her a teaching post for a US$700 “facilitation fee”.
Gonouya paid US$550. After that, Chirinda stopped answering her calls and left messages unread. Gonouya later identified “Ms Martin” as Chirinda on Facebook.
In February 2026, Gonouya confronted Chirinda with her husband present and asked for her money back. Chirinda allegedly said the money had been sent to other people.
After Ministry officials summoned Chirinda on 13 May 2026, she repaid the US$550.
In the second count, Chirinda allegedly took another US$550 from Tafadzwa Hellen Mutseyangwa, 37, in January 2026. Mutseyangwa is self-employed and lives at Mutare Rural Police Camp. Chirinda promised her a teaching job within a week.
After receiving the money, Chirinda became evasive and failed to show WhatsApp proof of recruitment, the memo says. That money has not been paid back.
ZACC was alerted on 20 May 2026. Chirinda was arrested on 28 May. Both complainants lost US$550 each, but only one has been fully refunded.
Chirinda has since appeared at the Mutare Magistrates’ Court and was remanded to 15 June 2026 on US$100 bail.
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