THE dusty roads to Gokwe tell a story of hardship and resilience.
Villagers under Chief Misheck Njelele face economic insecurity, limited resources and their schools are struggling due to unpaid fees.
The recent seizure of eight cattle from parents over school debt has sparked outrage and debate.
Recently, an audio recording circulated on social media platforms claiming that Chief Njelele’s aides were collecting cattle as part of a debt collection recovery plan.
Some of the villagers in Gokwe raised alarm over fees debt collection, claiming that many of them were suffering double trouble amid chaos from the school authorities’ recovery plan, with Chief Njelele’s aides leading the charge.
“The debt collection method is harsh. Debt collectors handcuff and summon you to Chief Njelele’s court. They take cattle without clearance. Is this professional? We are suffering in silence. It has taken too long,” one of the villagers in the leaked audio said.
One could tell from her voice that she was trembling.
“Hired debt collectors are heavily built and you can’t fight them,” another villager complained.
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“They take cattle without authority from you and surrender them to Chief Njelele.
“We are appealing to authorities to assist us.
“We are losing our prime possessions in the form of cattle.
“We can’t fight them. Parents are not refusing to pay fees. It’s now a crime to have many children.”
Many of the affected villagers are women, who claimed that the beasts are later sold to some middle men.
“We are forced to pay US$75 for each child who owes school fees to Chief Njelele. We are surprised that no uniformed police officer accompanies the debt collectors. Is this rule of law and why complicate school fees debt collection?” she said in the audio.
This week, Chief Njelele opened up and defended his actions, saying he was helping schools recover thousands of dollars in outstanding fees arrears in schools within his jurisdiction.
“Mapfumo Primary School is owed over US$65 000. How can it develop if parents can’t pay?” he asked, emphasising his authority.
The school, established in 1956 with 1 200 pupils, is in a fix.
Villagers feel helpless, with some facing harassment and intimidation.
The situation is complex, with power dynamics and poverty at play.
Chief Njelele denied any wrongdoing over the debt saga.
“The whole matter has been blown out. It’s untrue that my subjects are subjected to ill-treatment over fees debt collection,” he said.
“In fact, the case is being handled by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Gokwe. Check with Officer Commanding Gokwe district.”
The traditional leader explained that the allegations of suspected sales of cattle were untrue.
“I would like to set the record straight. There is an audio circulating, but they appeared before me last week and denied the allegations,” he said.
“They don’t know why it was recorded. As Chief Njelele, I haven’t received any single cent as part of school fees debt collection.
“No cattle were even paid for through my traditional court. Four parents’ cattle had been taken as part of debt collection and three paid in cash.
“Each of them had two beasts taken, but after settling the debt in cash, they got their beasts back. The other paid with one beast and got the other one back.”
Chief Njelele, however, blamed local community for being uncaring.
“Why should I standby when local schools are owed thousands of dollars in school fees by the same parents crying foul when we institute debt collection methods,” he said.
“Some parents have never paid for their children from Grade 1 to 7.
“I have an order from the Education ministry that schools must not withhold results, but rather engage parents through debt collectors.
“Several schools are less than a kilometre from my homestead and I understand their plight.
“Why would the aggrieved people rush to the media unless if they have a hidden agenda for tarnishing my image?”
He added: “Mostly parents do not pay for their children and transfer them from one school to the other, leaving behind a trail of debts.
“It’s a web of debtors. Parents do not pay school fees, yet they want their children to attend school for free.
“We can’t allow this abuse for too long. Someone has to act. I am ready to have my head on the block as part of community development.”
Added Chief Njelele: “What we did is aimed at reducing drugs and substance abuse in most communities.
“I will never be stopped by any aggressive media aimed at tarnishing mostly traditional leaders, including myself.
“It’s unfair, especially some journalists who don’t seek clarity on issues in our communities. At least I am happy that you sought my side of the story.”
Chief Njelele vowed to invite national media for another execution of his policies.
“Next time, I will call for a public media tour for a warrant of delivery from uncaring parents so that schools benefit financially.
“I will never ask for any money, but schools to benefit.”
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said they were yet to get an official report on the matter.
“As police, we don’t have such cases regarding suspicious mishandling of cattle for debt collection in Gokwe,” he said in a telephone interview.
“If reports are raised formally, investigations will be carried out without fear or favour.”
The Gokwe school fees saga mirrors a national crisis, as parents and guardians fail to pay fees for their children, while at the same time the government has failed to remit thousands of outstanding fees for children benefiting from the Basic Education Assistance Module.
