Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Provincial Education Director and her team in Masvingo face eviction from Wigley House after the Government failed to pay US$5 million in rent arrears owed to the Mining Industry Pension Fund (MIPF)—unpaid since 2009.
This is despite the Ministry of Education receiving the largest budget allocation in 2025—US$1.7 billion, according to Treasury.
An eviction order granted in 2022 by Justice David Mangota is yet to be enforced. A last-minute payment plan negotiated in 2023 has not been implemented.
MIPF spokesperson Moses Chireedzere confirmed that negotiations are ongoing.
According to The Masvingo Mirror, the Ministry is now so underfunded that its daily operations rely almost entirely on the Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ).
Originally meant to support teaching and learning, BSPZ, funded by a US$2-per-child levy, now covers office space, vehicles, fuel, and utility bills for district offices. It also funds all workshops and allowances for education officials.
Sources claim the Ministry stopped reimbursing allowances years ago, and BSPZ has effectively taken over administrative duties, raising concerns of misuse.
A retired education officer, speaking anonymously, warned that BSPZ has become an “abused cash cow”, enriching school heads and officials through frequent travel and meetings. Said the retired official:
BSPZ is not benefitting the child as is its objective. It is benefitting senior education officials who get hefty allowances each time they travel.
The BSPZ purposes is tuition which is to carry out mid-career training programmes, courses and workshops for teachers in various fields including science who in turn directly impart that knowledge to children in class.
Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti criticised the management of education funding, saying the Ministry of Education receives billions of dollars annually, yet little reaches where it’s needed most.
He outlined three key issues behind the dysfunction.
“Firstly,” Biti said, “there’s a huge gap between what Parliament approves and what is actually disbursed by the Treasury.”
He added that when funds are released, they come in “dribs and drabs”, making it difficult for departments to plan or function effectively.
Biti also claimed that disbursements are not made directly by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube. Said Biti:
Secondly, there is corruption and abuse of funds in these ministries and for that confirmation, you need to read the audit reports.
The audit reports have been very critical to the ministry of Higher Education and have been very critical to the ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The third thing which is general is that the public utility services have collapsed in particular health and education. Education and health systems are now in intensive care unity. The State is now outsourcing to parents and patients.
So, individuals, normal citizens who are underpaid and the majority of them who are unemployed are now having to sponsor the obligations of what the government should be doing.
The bottom line is that ZAU PF has failed and ZANU PF must go like yesterday. The chaos in our education system, the chaos in our health system have proved that they have failed beyond any reasonable doubt.
There is corruption and abuse of funds in these ministries and for that confirmation, you need to read the audit reports.
The audit reports have been very critical of the Ministry of Higher Education and have been very critical to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Thirdly, you must know that the public utility services have collapsed in particular, health and education.
Education and health systems are now in the intensive care unit. The State is now outsourcing to parents and patients.
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