As schools prepare to begin the third term, police are advising them to follow the government’s directive to process payments through banks rather than keeping cash on the premises.
This measure is crucial for protecting schools from armed robberies. Last term, several schools lost a lot of money because they were targeted by robbers while collecting fees from parents.
In an interview with ZBC News, Assistant Commissioner Blessmore Chishaka from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) stressed that schools need to use banks for fee deposits. He said:
“Schools and school authorities should follow the government’s advice and use banks to deposit school fees. Keeping cash at schools makes them easy targets for criminals. We also advise parents to use banks for paying school fees instead of bringing large amounts of cash to schools, as this can attract thieves.”
Last term, an armed gang robbed a school in Warren Park, Harare, pretending to be parents wanting to pay fees.
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Taungana Ndoro, Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, added:
“Schools must follow government rules and use the banking system for all transactions. This will help reduce the risk of robberies, make schools safer, and support the local economy.”
Several schools, including Lytton Primary in Harare, Tafadzwa Primary in Chitungwiza, Widdicombe Primary in Hatfield, Ngezi Salvation Army Secondary in Kadoma, Glen Norah 2 High, and George Stark High in Mbare, lost significant amounts of money due to robberies last term.
In a separate case, Assistant Commissioner Chishaka said that police are closing in on a gang that robbed Fawcett Security Company in Chipinge, stealing over US$110,000 and more than ZAR 2,000,000.