Mnangagwa’s Education Ministry Running Dry As Financial Challenges Increase – Eduzim News

Tinashe Sambiri– Government sources say a deepening financial crisis is crippling the operations of district and provincial offices under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, with some facilities reportedly struggling to function due to a lack of even the most basic supplies.

A senior official from the ministry said the situation has severely disrupted the country’s education supervisory system, which relies on district and provincial offices to monitor schools.

“There is absolutely no funding available to keep district and provincial education offices running.

Basic items such as stationery and printing toner are unavailable, there is no fuel for vehicles, and in some offices there is no water or electricity. In fact, conditions have deteriorated to the point where even simple necessities like toilet paper are missing.

As a result, school inspectors remain in their offices because they cannot travel to schools to carry out inspections,” the official said.

The financial strain has also affected workers employed under the Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ).

Dozens of employees linked to the programme have reportedly not received their salaries since October 2025 after the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion froze BSPZ bank accounts following allegations of widespread abuse of funds by some provincial and district education officials.

Sources say many administrative activities within the education ministry are now being sustained largely through payments made by parents under the BSPZ scheme.
The lack of funding is said to be disrupting daily operations in several offices. In some areas, staff members have reportedly stopped reporting for work after electricity and water supplies were cut off due to unpaid utility bills.

Even when employees report for duty, little progress is made because official vehicles cannot be used for school inspections due to fuel shortages.

Sources say school inspectors, who usually number about ten per district, have not conducted field visits since last year. In addition, their travel and subsistence allowances are reportedly in arrears, with some dating back nearly four years.

In Masvingo, District Schools Inspector Ishmael Chigaba reportedly approached the National Association of Primary School Heads (NAPH) and the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) for assistance in settling outstanding water and electricity bills at ministry offices.

However, the ministry’s information department dismissed claims that operations had stalled, saying funds were being released through Treasury to support district and provincial offices.

“From our position, ministry operations remain active, and financial resources are being channelled to district and provincial offices through Treasury to support their work,” a ministry spokesperson said.

“This is mere speculation from disgruntled elements, otherwise work is going on quite well.”

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