Fredrick Moyo
Parents with children enrolled at Masvingo City Council run Shakashe Primary School have raised concerns after the school reportedly demanded they pay an extra US$ 10 levy towards construction of an additional block.
The parents claim Shakashe had effected an additional US$ 10 for every child without considering payments in local currency and the additional charge does not appear on the school’s quotation sheets.
“The school is charging an extra-levy of US$ 10 for constructing an additional block without an option of ZW$ payment. We actually think we are being robbed as we only pay the US $10 considering that many parents are getting paid in local currency.
“This levy is being paid at the school while the school fees are being paid at the bank and this raises questions why this levy is being paid at the school considering how risky it is to keep funds at school in the wake of these rampant armed robberies,” said the source.
Parents questioned whether the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is aware of what the school is doing and most of the hardware shops in the city also sell their products in ZW$.
“Is the ministry even aware of what the school is doing and do they have auditors to look into this issue? Most if not all shops in the city accept payments in local currency, why did they peg the levy in US$ only,” said one parent.
Contacted for comment Shakashe School head Alexander Mashenjere refuted the claims that the school is only charging the extra-levy in US$ saying those who want to pay in ZW$ may come forward and do so.
“We held a meeting and more than 2 000 parents agreed to pay the levy in US$ and also agreed that those who want to pay using ZW$ must also come forward and make their payments. The ministry also approved that the levy can be paid in both US$ and ZW$ and construction works are underway as we speak right now,” Mashenjere said.
Acting Provincial Education Director (PED) Shylet Mhike confirmed that the school sent a letter requesting for the payment of the levy in US$.
“The school sent a letter requesting for the payment of the levy in US$ and it was approved but this does not mean that those who want to pay in ZW$ cannot do so,” said Mhike.
Most workers in Zimbabwe including civil servants are paid their salaries in local currency and find it tough to pay for either goods or services in foreign currency.
