Furthermore, on 30 January, the MDC president was prevented from launching a clean-up campaign
with the police advising him to join the clean-up initiative by the Zimbabwean president. Such bans are
a slap on the freedoms of assembly and association provided for in section 58 of the constitution. This
is especially unfortunate considering the preliminary findings of the United Nations Special Rapporteur
on the Freedoms of peaceful assembly and of association in September 2019 who emphasised that
“…assemblies should be presumed lawful and peaceful”.
The selective application of the law by the police has fostered a culture of impunity and disregard of
human rights.
Access to the right to education remained a challenge for
some children as they were turned away from school
following failure by their parents and guardians to pay
school fees and levies set up by schools across the
country. Although the Ministry of Education received one
On 14 January 2020 when schools
opened, school authorities at
Sumbe Secondary, in Gumunyu,
Gokwe were turning away pupils
for non-payment of school fees.
Pupils who did not have proof of
payment or the money to pay on
the day were not allowed to attend
classes. The levy at the school is
pegged at ZWL$200. In addition,
pupils were expected to have new
books. These books were sold to
students by teachers at the school.
Failure to purchase books meant
that the pupils could not get into
class.
of the highest budgetary allocations in the budget
announced by the Minister of Finance and Economic
Development in November 2019, at 16.8% of the total
budget, the allocation is not enough to cater for all the
Ministry’s needs and continues to be eroded by inflation.
Schools are increasingly dependent on school levies to
operate; which is an exorbitant cost passed on to parents
and guardians. ZPP received reports of several schools
across the country who have been turning away learners
from school owing to non- payment of fees and levies. This
is likely to result in an increase in the rate of school drop
outs, making girls even more vulnerable. The government
should speedily put in place measures that protect the right to education; lest accessing this right
becomes a privilege for a few. Government should also ensure that all arrears owed to schools under
the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) are paid as this will assist alleviate financial
pressure from schools.