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outstanding school fees and levies.
The schools are even confiscating chickens.

This is being done outside the law as the schools do not have court orders to that effect.
Government yesterday said the actions by the schools were illegal as they were confiscating valuables from parents without following proper procedures.
The schools have engaged the services of Gokwe- based Mudzota Debt Collector (Pvt Ltd), who moves around the villages forcefully confiscating valuables from the impoverished families.

The majority of the parents are peasant farmers who depend on crop and livestock sales.
Investigations by The Herald this week revealed that such schools as Nyaradza Secondary School, Kushinga-Rumhuma Secondary School and Mateta Primary School were among schools in Gokwe that have served parents with summons and some of them proceeded to confiscate belongings.

Nyaradza Secondary School is holding onto ploughs and pleas by the victims for their release to enable them to prepare for the farming season are falling on deaf ears.
The school’s deputy headmaster only identified as Mr Mabwe, refused to comment on the matter, neither would he allow The Herald entry into the offices where ploughs and other property such as solar panels were locked up.

“We are not allowed to speak to the Press. I cannot talk to you without permission from the district education officer,” he said.
Efforts by Gokwe legislator Cde Dorothy Mangami and councillor for Ward 19, Mr Andrew Mateta, to engage the schools have failed as authorities refused to release the valuables without settlement of the outstanding fees.

Many parents were failing to pay schools fees because of recurrent droughts.