Private School Director Suspected of Equipping Institution with Stolen Materials

An unusual and alarming case is shaking the education sector in Maputo. The owner of a private school is accused of leading a scheme to steal wallets from several public schools, with the aim of equipping his own educational institution.

Among the affected schools is Unidade-23 Primary School, located in the Chamanculo neighborhood. The school's visibly shaken principal has been working hard in recent weeks to recover the stolen school furniture, which seriously compromised the normal functioning of classes.

According to the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), the alleged perpetrator of the scheme is the owner of a private school who allegedly benefited directly from the stolen materials. The individual, identified as Armando Joaquim, denies direct involvement in the crime, claiming to be merely the institution's financier and unaware of the origin of the purchased desks.

However, investigations point to a well-organized network, with evidence of premeditation and distribution of stolen goods among various private institutions. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the scheme.

The situation worsens with the discovery of the involvement of a guard at Unidade 23 Primary School, who allegedly facilitated the accomplices' entry into the premises. According to information provided by the PRM, guard Manuel Silva actively collaborated in the theft, violating the trust placed in him as a public servant.

It's worth noting that, unlike many school security guards in precarious situations, Silva was already employed by the Ministry of Education and enjoyed job security. His involvement in the crime shocked the educational community, given his status and responsibilities as a government employee.

The forensic examination carried out at the crime scene and the statements collected reinforce the theory of direct involvement of the aforementioned guard, who is currently in police custody.

Although some desks have already been recovered, the amount found does not correspond to the total amount reported missing from Unit 23. This fact leads authorities to believe that other public schools may have also been targeted by the same scheme, although they have not yet been identified.

Police continue to gather evidence and receive reports from other agencies in order to fully map the theft network and hold everyone involved accountable.

The case has sparked a wave of outrage among parents, guardians, and teachers. Many are outraged that already scarce public resources are being diverted to private benefit.

"It's unacceptable. While our children sit on the floor due to a lack of desks, there are those who get rich at the expense of public education," said an outraged António Mucavel, father of a student at the affected school.

Teachers are also demoralized by the situation. "We're struggling with limited resources, and now we have to deal with theft. This undermines the credibility of the entire system," lamented teacher Rosa Nhantumbo.

The PRM assured that the investigations continue with maximum priority and that efforts will be made to identify others involved and recover all stolen assets.

The owner of the private school is under formal investigation and may be charged with receiving stolen goods, criminal association, and causing damage to the public treasury.

This case raises a serious alarm about the fragility of public institutions and the urgent need to review mechanisms for protecting school assets. In a country where access to a decent education still represents a challenge for thousands of children, crimes like this cannot go unpunished.