Zimbabwean Woman Who Stole US$120k From Private School Arrested While Seeking US VISA In Mozambique

School Funds Thief Arrested At US Embassy In Maputo

A Zimbabwean woman who stole US$120,000 from a private school has been arrested while seeking a US visa in Mozambique. Angeline Tatenda Khaka was taken into custody at the US Embassy in Maputo after allegedly embezzling funds from Acacia Junior School where she worked as a receptionist. The arrest came after an international search for the former school employee who vanished in February 2022.

The School’s Financial Control Breakdown

H-Metro reports that Khaka had been employed at Acacia Junior School since January 2021, where she held a position that gave her complete authority over financial transactions. Sympathy Mutamba, the school accountant and administrator, explained the extent of her responsibilities during court proceedings.

“She was the sole custodian of the vault keys and cash box keys. Her duties included receiving school fees, receipting the money, and making daily updates on cash received,” Mutamba stated.

The arrangement meant Khaka had unsupervised access to all school funds. Between January 2021 and February 2022, she allegedly systematically diverted money that parents had paid for school fees. The scheme collapsed on February 15, 2022, when two men visited the school demanding repayment for a separate car import deal they had with Khaka.

The Escape And Embassy Capture

Following the confrontation with the two men, Khaka requested time off from work and never returned. School officials grew suspicious and eventually broke into the vault, discovering that US$120,140 (approximately R2.2 million) was missing. After conducting an audit, the school filed a police report and Interpol issued a red notice for her arrest.

The search ended on March 6 of this year when Khaka attempted to obtain a US visa at the American embassy in Maputo. Authorities identified her through the Interpol alert and took her into custody. She was handed over to Zimbabwean officials and made her first court appearance shortly afterwards.