Vusumuzi Dube
Tanaka Nkala
PARENTS in Kezi, Matobo District, have raised alarm after debt collectors reportedly camped at a local Government school, allegedly harassing struggling families and charging additional collection fees while blocking some pupils from registering for their O-level examinations.
The dispute centres on Sontala Secondary School in Kezi, where parents say an acting head brought in private debt collectors to recover outstanding school fees.
The move has sparked an outcry from the community, with many families claiming the debt collectors are demanding about a 34 percent collection fee on top of the original debt and threatening to confiscate livestock from families who fail to pay.
Several parents said the debt collectors have taken over the accounts office at the school and are refusing to allow pupils with outstanding balances to register for the upcoming examinations administered by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec).
“They are blocking children from registering for O-level exams until parents pay everything, including the collection fee,” said one concerned parent.
“Registration closes this week, and our children are now at risk of missing the exams.”
School fees at the institution is reportedly US$65 per term, but many parents say they owe only for the current term or small arrears from previous terms.
Some claim they were never warned about the possibility of debt collectors being brought in.
“We were never called to a meeting or given letters to explain the situation,” the parent said.
“They should have called their parents first and arranged payment plans. Instead, strangers came to the school and started threatening people.”
Parents also alleged that the debt collectors have been telling villagers that they were sent by the Government and SDC, and that they could seize livestock such as goats and cattle from families who fail to settle their debts by mid-March.
According to documents given to parents, a family allegedly owing US$450 was told to pay an additional US$150 as a debt collection charge.
Parents say the move was initiated by the acting head of the school, identified as Miss Moyo, who quickly hung up the phone after being called for comment.
However, the School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson, only identified as Bhoda, denied all the allegations from parents, stating that the parents were only asked to pay outstanding fees and no child was being denied registration for exams.
“It is the head who authorised this and we are urging parents to please kindly pay the fees,” he said.
Parents argue that the decision is particularly harsh for a poor rural community already struggling to meet basic school costs.
“These are villagers who depend on livestock and small farming. People do not owe large amounts. Instead of harassing them, the school could have allowed them to pay gradually,” said another parent.
However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has defended the principle that parents must pay school fees.
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry’s director of communications and advocacy, Taungana Ndoro, said the root of the problem is unpaid fees, although he emphasised that debt collectors should not interfere with the running of the school.
“The debt is an issue. Parents must pay fees. If they had no debt, we would not be having a problem,” said Ndoro.
“Nevertheless, debt collectors don’t run the school. It is the head who runs the school and parents should be allowed to register.”
Ndoro said when debt collectors are hired, their service fees are normally paid by the debtor.
He advised parents facing financial difficulties to negotiate payment plans with schools rather than wait until debts accumulate.
Despite the ministry’s position, parents in Kezi insist the situation at Sontala Secondary has gone too far, with some pupils already considering dropping out due to the pressure on their families.
As the deadline for O-level registration approaches, the community is now calling on authorities to urgently intervene to ensure that pupils are not prevented from sitting their examinations while the fees dispute is resolved.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Online Reporter