By Chipo Gudhe
Kwekwe City Council is set to take full control of its five council schools, Tasungana, Dambudzo, Chana A, Chana B, and Kushinga in a bold move aimed at ending long-standing financial mismanagement.
The schools initially were being run by school heads and School Development Committees (SDCs).
The move if executed well will end an era of political interference as most SDCs had been overtaken by shadowy political actors with no children learning at the schools.
Speaking in an interview, Mayor Albert Zinhanga revealed that the decision comes after years of challenges with heads and SDCs, whom he said had been failing to submit qualified financial reports.
“Previously, operations were mainly handled by school heads and the SDCs, but we encountered delays and inconsistencies in financial reporting. When schools fail to submit reports on time, it impacts the council’s budget and the audited accounts,” Mayor Zinhanga said.
Mayor Zinhanga said his council was moving swiftly to address this issue which comes as a ministry 2026 budget approval condition.
He said the schools takeover is modeled after a system observed in Masvingo, where council-run schools reportedly enjoy strict financial oversight, with all property including buses and vehicles are registered under the council.
“We did a survey comparing with other cities and we noted that in Masvingo the headmasters have no power to authorize bus hiring; everything is done through council. We are bringing that model here to ensure accountability of funds paid by parents,” the mayor explained.
The overhaul will include the hiring of bursars who will report directly to the council. School heads will not be automatically removed but will be required to reapply for their positions through a transparent process in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Employment will be based strictly on merit.
Zinhanga said the council will also oversee elections for SDCs, with clear rules ensuring that only parents with children at the school can participate, in line with the election charter.
Mayor Zinhanga emphasized that the move seeks to reduce the financial burden on parents, reaffirming that council schools were traditionally the most affordable option.
“We want to bring a complete overhaul and ensure that the schools remain affordable, while improving accountability and governance,” he said.
The resolution to take over the schools was formalized earlier this week, after being approved in council minutes signed by Mayor Zinhanga, making the decision effective immediately.
