Bulawayo councillors have proposed a motion to grant council-run schools the authority to make independent financial decisions for development projects through their School Development Committees (SDCs).
The motion, introduced by the chairperson of the finance committee, Cllr Mpumelelo Moyo, was seconded by Cllrs Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and Edwin Ndlovu during a Full Council Meeting.
Previously, the council required schools to raise two-thirds of the total funds needed for a project before initiating it. However, councillors argued that this policy placed an excessive financial burden on schools, hindering their development.
Councillors pointed out that schools were missing opportunities from financial institutions offering zero-deposit loans for project funding.
“Your Worship, it’s nearly impossible for a school to purchase a bus, for instance, because we demand they raise at least 60 percent of the total cost. The reason we advised them to approach banks is that as a council, we don’t have the funds. SDCs are legal entities, and if parents and the SDC agree on a purchase like a bus, they can arrange a special levy and approach banks for financing,” explained Cllr Moyo.
He then moved the motion, stating, “I propose that we give schools the authority to purchase buses and negotiate terms with financial institutions independently. If they secure a zero-deposit offer, it will benefit the school.”
Cllr Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu emphasized that council schools were falling behind in development due to insufficient funding.
“During our finance committee discussions, we noted that, despite running some of the largest schools in the city, we are lagging in development—especially when it comes to school buses. Mahlathini Primary, for example, is Bulawayo’s largest school by enrollment, yet it has struggled to acquire a bus due to our strict financial requirements,” he said.
He added that the requirement for schools to raise 60 percent of project costs before starting was exacerbating their financial challenges, as they already had numerous other expenses to cover from SDC fees, including daily operations and affiliations with various organizations.
Cllr Ndlovu further argued that allowing schools more financial flexibility would help reduce the gap in resources and infrastructure between public schools in high-density areas and private institutions.
“We need to bridge the gap between schools in western suburbs and private schools, but we can’t do that with such restrictive policies. Financial institutions are offering zero-deposit deals, yet as a council, we are becoming the stumbling block,” he said.
Cllr Edwin Ndlovu, a former SDC member, supported the motion, noting that SDCs were well-capable of making sound financial decisions to improve their respective schools.
