Trust Freddy
CHECKPOINT DESK
FOR thousands of parents enrolling new Form One learners this week, the start of the 2026 school year has brought less relief than financial shock.
What should be a moment of pride and academic transition has instead become a scramble for survival, as the cost of compulsory school uniforms in some institutions now rivals – and in some cases exceeds – tuition itself.
An investigation by CheckPoint reveals a growing and largely unregulated uniform monopoly within parts of Zimbabwe’s education system, where parents are compelled to buy school uniforms either directly from schools or from selected suppliers at prices far above market value.
This is despite a standing Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education directive explicitly barring schools from acting as sole uniform suppliers or forcing parents to purchase from designated outlets.
Yet evidence gathered, including receipts, payment instructions and admission letters, shows that many schools continue to flout the policy, effectively holding parents to ransom.
Scarcity as leverage
With only about 30 000 boarding school places available nationwide, competition for admission has become fierce.
Investigators found that some schools are exploiting this scarcity by bundling uniforms and levies into non-negotiable “packages”, leaving parents with little choice, but to comply or risk losing their child’s place.
While Government policy promotes a free-market approach, allowing parents to source uniforms wherever they find the best value, the reality on the ground is one of forced spending and opaque pricing.
One receipt seen by CheckPoint illustrates the extent of the distortion: while Murewa High School set tuition fees at US$526, the compulsory uniform package alone was invoiced at US$1 310.
“They just give you one big number,” said a mother who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
“They told me it’s US$1 800 to start, and going forward your termly fee will be US$520.
“When I asked how much of that US$1 800 was for the uniform so I could compare prices elsewhere, the clerk just said it’s a ‘package deal’ and non-negotiable.”
Another parent said the practice allowed schools to sidestep Government transparency rules by concealing uniform costs within inflated entry fees.
“The jump from a US$1 800 initial payment to a US$520 recurring fee suggests that nearly US$1 300 is being swallowed up by administration and kit costs,” the parent said.
For Mr Irvine Chivanza, the pricing model amounts to outright exploitation.
“It’s a clever bit of accounting, but it’s still exploitation,” he said.
“If I don’t pay the full US$1 800, my child does not get a place. They have turned our children’s education into a high-end retail transaction.”
Documented costs
At St John’s High School Chikwaka, the total cost covering school uniforms, a furniture levy, a textbook combination and a church levy has been set at US$855, in addition to school fees of US$608 and an infrastructure development levy of US$500. At Hama High School, the total amount required from incoming Form One learners stands at US$1 120, made up of US$450 in tuition and boarding fees and US$670 for uniforms. Although Hama High is considered relatively affordable compared to other boarding schools, parents still question how the uniform cost is justified.
“In my opinion, Hama is one of the most affordable boarding schools,” said one parent.
“However, one has to wonder how the uniform package reaches US$670, when the same items would likely cost about US$200 if bought elsewhere.”
Investigators established that while some schools channel all payments through a single official account, others require parents to deposit fees into separate accounts, including private ones designated for uniforms and ancillary charges, a practice that further blurs accountability.
In some schools, the authorities go through the uniforms receipt book and move around targeting pupils who do not appear in the book as having bought the uniforms at the school.
They simply tell the pupils that they have wrong uniforms and their parents should do the right thing to align the dress code.
A divided system
Not all schools are engaging in the practice.
Institutions such as Marondera High School allow parents to buy uniforms from reputable external suppliers, while several Harare schools – including Kuwadzana 1 High School – have shifted toward compliance.
“This year we are pleased that the school is adhering to Government regulations,” said Tinashe, a parent.
“Last year it was mandatory to buy uniforms from the school before paying tuition, failure to do so could result in a student losing their place.
“This year, the policy is more flexible, even allowing us to pay just half of the tuition fees upfront.”
International perspective
Globally, education systems that enforce exclusive uniform supply arrangements have drawn criticism for deepening inequality.
In countries such as South Africa, Kenya and the United Kingdom, regulators have intervened to curb “single-supplier” models after studies showed they inflate costs, exclude poorer families and undermine access to education.
UNESCO has consistently warned that hidden education costs, including uniforms, are a major barrier to school retention in low and middle-income countries.
When uniforms become unaffordable, learners are delayed, excluded or pushed out of school altogether.
Zimbabwe’s situation mirrors these global concerns, but with weaker enforcement and fewer consumer protections.
Systemic damage
Education experts warn that the uniform monopoly threatens to commercialise access to public education, distort school governance and entrench inequality between families who can absorb sudden costs and those who cannot.
When schools behave like exclusive retailers rather than public service institutions, trust in the education system erodes.
Worse still, learners become collateral damage in a system where admission depends not on merit, but on purchasing power.
Government response
Comment from the implicated schools could not be obtained by the time of publication.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Torerayi Moyo, issued a firm warning to all school heads.
“The Ministry maintains a strict policy to protect parents from financial exploitation,” he said.
“Non-compliant school heads face disciplinary action.
“Uniform policy is clear: parents have the absolute freedom to procure uniforms from suppliers of their choice. Forcing parents to use specific outlets is prohibited.
“Any complaints regarding fees or uniforms should be reported directly to Ministry command centres at district, provincial or head office level for immediate investigation.”
As schools reopen, the test for authorities will be whether this policy remains ink on paper or becomes a lived reality for parents already stretched beyond their limits.
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