Zim Now Reporter
Parents in Gweru have described as “shocking and unjustifiable” the move by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to fund this year’s Nembudziya Independence Day celebrations through compulsory civvies day contributions.
A leaked letter from the District Schools Inspector (DSI) of Gweru reveals that schools have been directed to hold Civvies Days and collect a maximum of one US dollar from each student.
The money is to be used to purchase regalia, food, and fuel for the event on April 18, 2025.
According to the Gweru Food and Nutrition Security Profile of 2023, the district has 2,737 primary and secondary schools. An estimate of 500 learners per school would mean that the district can raise over US$1.3 million through the levy.
“We will not pay this shocking and unjustifiable extortion,” said one parent, who was echoed by several others who spoke to Zim Now.
“Public schools are under-resourced as it is. Anything we pay should go towards improving standards for our kids and not funding a political event,” said another parent.
All those who spoke to Zim Now said that they would not pay the money now that they know what is going on.
A head at a Gweru school said the directive blatantly contradicts the government’s own past policies. As Civvies Days were previously banned for school projects after concerns about financial strain on parents.
“Yet now the same ministry expects already struggling families to bankroll a state event—a responsibility that should fall squarely on the government. This does not make sense, and it will only cause problems for us as heads when we try to tell parents to pay up,” the head said.
Parents, who are already battling skyrocketing school fees and economic hardships, are expected to cough up money under the guise of a “once-off” collection.
The head said if history is anything to go by, this will set a dangerous precedent where families will continuously be forced to fund state functions through disguised mandatory contributions.
“It is outrageous that instead of prioritizing policies that ease the financial burden on parents, the Ministry has chosen to squeeze them even further. If the government can afford lavish national celebrations, why can’t it fund the regalia, food, and fuel for its own events?” asked another irate parent, who said that the government should be ashamed of the state of the public education system in the country.
“Forcing students to pay to celebrate their own independence is not only exploitative but also an insult to the very principles of freedom and self-determination that the day is meant to commemorate. Zimbabweans deserve better,” said another parent.
The government has not commented on the development.
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