SHOP owners have been counting their losses as parents now prefer to purchase school stuff from street vendors.
During random interviews with parents in the streets of Harare, Zim Morning Post heard that prices charged by some reputable shops were beyond the reach of many.
This publication gathered the price of a complete set of EnBee Prince Edward School uniform costs ZWL5 125, 00, with Nagaji selling the same at ZWL3 260.
In sharp contrast, vendors sell the same uniform at ZWL2 530.
The lowest paid civil servant earns ZWL1000.
“Uniform prices are forcing us to go for the cheaper alternative in order to remain with money in our wallets for other school materials such as trunks, paying fees and tuck for their children,” said one Tinotenda Tsvaru.
At EnBee, a pair of shoes now retails at ZWL675 while the same pair is asking for ZWL300 in the streets, explaining why street vendors have become a hit among parents with school-going children.
A counter book now costs ZWL35 in stationery stores while the same book with similar number pages costs ZWL17 in the streets, again explaining why parents would rather stick with street vendors.
“We are struggling with sending children back to school as our salaries fall far short of requirements needed to fund their education needs,” said a parent, Stella Moyo.
One Vivian Nyakudya added that the salaries had remained stagnant in the face of rising costs of uniforms.
“We cannot afford these prices, so we are resorting to buying from vendors,” she said.
One shop owner who spoke to Zim Morning Post pleaded with city fathers to clamp down on illegal vending.
“At one stage shop owners boycotted paying rates to council in protest over the influx of illegal vendors, who are selling the same commodities in front of their shops,” said shop owner Tendai Matsi.
“The people on the streets have no formal establishments. They don’t pay rent, don’t have workers and they don’t pay tax only to set up stalls right at our doorsteps,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Ptuz) has shown great displeasure over the channels being used to communicate with parents over school fees issues.
In a statement, Ptuz president Takavafira Zhou said most boarding schools no longer observed the requirement to invite 20% of parents in all deliberations for fee changes.
“Sadly, most boarding schools have long abandoned the procedure of at least meeting up with 20% of parents at school to deliberate on fees,” Zhou said.
He noted with disdain that parents were merely being presented with circulars notifying them about changes in fees.
“Several schools merely give students circulars notifying parents about the fee increases without first holding meetings with them,” he noted.
Zhou also blamed education provincial directors who said approved fee changes without input from the parents or guardians who pay the fees.
“More often than not, schools clandestinely get approval from provincial directors to increase fees,” he added.
