Parents Hit by Soaring Uniform Costs as Schools Enforce Exclusive Supply Rules

Parents face soaring school uniform costs as some Zimbabwean schools enforce exclusive supplier rules (image source)

HARARE — For thousands of parents enrolling Form One learners this week, the start of the 2026 school year has brought financial shock as compulsory uniform packages at some schools rival and, in some cases, exceed tuition fees.

An investigation by this newspaper found a growing, largely unregulated practice in parts of the education system where schools compel parents to buy uniforms from designated suppliers at prices well above market rates, despite a Ministry directive prohibiting exclusive supply arrangements.

At Murewa High School, documents seen by this paper show tuition set at US$526 while a compulsory uniform package was invoiced at US$1,310. One parent said the school presented a single non-negotiable “package” of US$1,800 for initial admission, with recurring term fees of US$520, leaving families unable to separate uniform costs from tuition. “It’s a clever bit of accounting, but it’s still exploitation,” said Irvine Chivanza, a concerned parent. “If I don’t pay the full US$1,800, my child does not get a place.”

Other examples include St John’s High School Chikwaka, where uniform and ancillary levies total US$855 on top of US$608 in school fees and a US$500 infrastructure levy. At Hama High School, parents face US$1,120 upfront — US$450 for tuition and boarding and US$670 for uniforms — despite estimates that the same kit could cost about US$200 if sourced independently.

Investigators found some schools require payments into separate accounts, including private accounts for uniforms, complicating transparency and accountability. In several cases, pupils whose names do not appear in uniform receipt books are singled out and pressured to comply.

Not all schools follow the practice. Marondera High School and several Harare schools, including Kuwadzana 1 High, allow parents to buy uniforms from external suppliers and have moved toward compliance with ministry rules.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo issued a stern warning to school heads, reiterating that parents have the right to procure uniforms from suppliers of their choice and that non-compliant heads face disciplinary action. “Any complaints regarding fees or uniforms should be reported directly to Ministry command centres at district, provincial or head office level for immediate investigation,” he said.

Education experts warn that unchecked uniform monopolies risk commercialising access to public education, deepening inequality and undermining school governance. As the school year begins, the ministry’s enforcement of its policy will be closely watched by parents already stretched to the limit.