Zimbabwe’s school calendar shifts into high gear in mid-January each year. Something one would think parents and guardians have become accustomed to. Recent visits across the country by this publication revealed how streets from Harare to Bulawayo and provincial towns remain abuzz with activity well beyond the official start of term. While the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has consistently set the first term opening around mid-January, for 2026, it was January 13; the frantic pace of preparations often lingers until the end of the month.
The period between the New Year and the last week of January, for many parents, becomes an annual marathon. It is defined by long queues, late fees, last-minute shopping, and logistical scrambles, rather than a smooth, orderly start to the school year.
This phenomenon reflects deep-rooted economic and social pressures that place schooling and parents’ capacity to prepare on a delicate, sometimes precarious, balance. The toughest challenge for many families remains the high costs associated with schooling, fees, uniforms, stationery, textbooks, transport, and other essentials.
“I can’t speak for others, but personally, I knew of the requirements; I had a list supplied by the school. But the requirements were many and costly; some items became scarce before we buy due to high demand. We managed to send the child to school by 13, but she did not meet all the requirements,” said Maria Choga, a Harare-based resident.
In urban areas, markets and shops remain crowded with parents buying school supplies up to and beyond opening day. Many families delay purchases as long as possible in hopes of stretching limited funds or waiting for the release of diasporan remittances.
“I had a shortfall and ended up reaching out to some relatives in the diaspora. I have just collected the money and am doing my last shopping on the outstanding things,” said Charles Gumpo, a parent in Bulawayo.
A snapshot from similar back-to-school periods shows that parents with children transitioning into new education levels, such as from Grade 7 to secondary or from ECD (early childhood) to Grade 1, face especially steep costs, often exceeding hundreds of U.S. dollars per child when uniforms, textbooks, and other supplies are added together.
Even where official policy permits payment in any currency under Zimbabwe’s multi-currency regime, many schools still demand U.S. dollars for key expenses, placing additional strain on households whose income is limited or denominated in Zimbabwean dollars.
“Looking for the USD is a costly and time-consuming exercise. When schools default on government policies and orders, we are the ones who suffer the most,” said Ranganai Zishiri in Marondera.
This financial squeeze is compounded by the timing of other major expenses: the festive season leaves many families cash-strapped after holiday travel and celebrations. By the time January arrives, families are often dipping into savings or scrambling to prioritise their limited cash.
One of the most visible signals of the back-to-school rush is packed clothing and stationery shops and crowded flea markets throughout January.
A recurring concern is the cost and sourcing of school uniforms, which in many schools have effectively become a compulsory expense. The Besana Mail findings show that some schools bundle uniforms and supplies into “packages” at prices that rival or even exceed tuition fees.
In some instances, parents are effectively compelled to buy uniforms directly from the school or a designated supplier, even though ministry policy discourages this practice.
There are frequent reports of parents still negotiating placements, submitting documentation, or securing acceptances for children in late January. While official term dates may not change, the practical reality of positioning children in the schools they want can delay other aspects of preparation.
