Managwa Primary School in Gokwe has engaged debt collectors to recover money that it is owed by parents in school fees arrears are allegedly demanding livestock as payment.
The parents said the school's move contradicted the agreement they entered into regarding the payment of outstanding fees. They said they had agreed that outstanding balances were to be cleared after the parents harvested their crops.
"We agreed with the school head that we will settle our debts with the school after harvesting our crops this year. We are surprised that he is sending debt collectors now. The headmaster never informed us of the changes in the payment arrangements. This is unfair," said one of the affected parents, Mrs Tendai Nyoni.
Another villager, Mr Samson Dzimba, said the debt collectors had collected a number of beasts from parents who owed the school.
"Some parents lost cattle to the debt collectors while from other households they were demanding goats and chickens. This cannot be allowed to continue because this is daylight robbery. We have since appealed to Chief Nemangwe to intervene," said Mr Dzimba.
Chief Nemangwe confirmed the operations of the debt collectors in his area when contacted for a comment yesterday.
He said some parents were, however, now using violent means to protect their beasts.
"I am informed that the school is demanding a beast from the parents for outstanding fees. It is alleged that a beast is compensating even a balance of only $100. So far I have received eight complaints from parents who lost their cattle to these debt collectors".
- chronicle
0