Zimbabwe education offices shut down over cash crisis

Zimbabwe's entire education supervision network is basically dead in the water because district and provincial offices cannot even afford toilet paper.

Offices running on fumes, literally

• District and provincial education offices are shutting down nationwide.
• Zero stationery, toner, fuel, water, or electricity exists.
• School inspectors are desk-bound with nowhere to go.
• Some staffers just stopped showing up entirely.

BSPZ workers caught in a financial freeze

• Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe accounts got frozen by the Treasury.
• Alleged fund abuse by education officers triggered that move.
• BSPZ workers have gone unpaid since October 2025.
• Parent payments are basically keeping administrative functions alive.

Field inspections completely stalled out

• Roughly ten inspectors per district handle school visits normally.
• None have conducted field work since last year.
• Travel allowances are roughly four years in arrears.
• Grounded vehicles make any outreach physically impossible.

Masvingo's situation sums it all up

• Ishmael Chigaba asked NAPH and NASH for help with bills.
• Chigaba confirmed everything but dodged follow-up questions.
• Spokesperson Taungana Ndoro claimed operations were running smoothly.
• Multiple offices denied receiving any Treasury funds for four-plus years.