Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE sprawling Knowstics Academy in Mutasa, once a thriving private school, failed to open its doors this term, leaving learners, staff, and parents uncertain about its future.
Manicaland Chief Provincial Education Director, Mr Richard Gabaza, confirmed the closure, noting that investigations by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education found that no learners had been prejudiced.
“The school authorities sent us a letter informing us that they did not open this term, and we will be meeting them on Tuesday regarding the matter. I can confirm that the school did not open, but our investigations show that all learners were accommodated in other schools after being informed in good time,” said Mr Gabaza.
He did not, however, clarify whether the shutdown is temporary or permanent.
The once-bustling campus, set on nearly 800 000 square metres at Nyamazi, now lies abandoned.
Overgrown lawns, locked gates, and unfinished construction projects dominate the grounds.
Classrooms, laboratories, hostels, staff housing, dining halls, and recreational facilities stand largely unused, while several building projects—including a school hall and classroom blocks—remain incomplete.
“The school is now in a state of desolation. No one is maintaining the grounds, and there is no activity when one passes by. It is truly sad to see what was once a thriving academic environment in such a condition,” said a former parent, who asked not to be named.
Knowstics Academy was placed under corporate rescue in late 2024 after its owners, WillEdit Investments (Private) Limited, failed to settle debts owed to GetBucks Microfinance Bank Limited.
The move aimed to revive the institution’s operations while shielding it from liquidation.
However, the corporate rescue arrangement was terminated in June 2025, effectively removing any protection from creditors and opening the door for financial recovery actions.
Speaking in a previous interview, Corporate rescue practitioner, Mr Budhama Chikamhi, who oversaw the restructuring process from November 2024 until June 2025, said he no longer had oversight of the school when he was approached by this publication for a comment.
“As of now, I am not aware of anything related to the operational status of Knowstics Academy, as it was removed from corporate rescue way back. I am no longer involved in their affairs and do not have access to information regarding their current situation,” said Mr Chikamhi.
The termination of corporate rescue left the institution vulnerable to further deterioration.
With no management team overseeing daily operations or maintenance, the campus increasingly showed signs of neglect.
“The dormitories are locked, windows are broken in some classrooms, and weeds have overtaken the playgrounds. It is disheartening but we all knew that it would get to this as they had trouble paying our salaries for months and months. It is so fortunate that I had already left the school when it closed. They still owe me though,” said a former teacher at the school, who also requested for anonymity.
Financial and administrative disputes have plagued the institution for years.
In early 2025, the British Council of Zimbabwe withheld Cambridge O-Level results for over 40 students after the school failed to remit examination fees exceeding US$41 000.
While the matter was temporarily resolved, financial mismanagement continued to undermine the academy’s operations.
The property remains on the market under the Sheriff of the High Court, with Realty World Estate Agents handling private treaty offers.
Prospective buyers are required to meet strict conditions, including security deposits and fees, before taking ownership.
Repeated attempts to reach the school’s directors, Mr William and Mrs Edith Mukuwapasi, were unsuccessful, with phones unanswered.
While the property remains on the market for prospective buyers, with the auctioneer accepting offers under strict conditions, the fate of the school’s facilities and its ability to reopen remains uncertain.
