Polad pressures Mnangagwa for Zimdollar school fees

THE Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) is pushing government to consider allowing payment of school fees in local currency, arguing that payment of fees in United States dollars was straining parents.

Most private schools in the country are charging fees in foreign currency, which is straining parents whose earnings were in local currency.

It has also been difficult for people in the country to access foreign currency through legal channels, with most of it being accessed through the parallel market.

"Polad has also been a key part in advising the government on important issues affecting the ordinary Zimbabweans. Currently, we are pushing the government to consider a mandated payment of all school fees in local currency in bank accounts of the schools," Polad acting spokesperson Francis Danha told NewsDay yesterday after completion of a two-day workshop in Kadoma last week.

"This will ease pressure on the US dollar as well as making it easier for parents to pay fees as the majority of parents earn salaries in local currency."

Currently, the parallel exchange rate is at US$1 to $210.

Danha said six Polad thematic committees met at the Kadoma workshop to strategise for 2022 activities.

"Polad reiterated the need for members to encourage society to desist from any acts and forms of violence. As leaders, we need to be exemplary in bringing a better society with high moral values," he said.

Polad is made up of fringe political parties that lost the 2018 harmonised elections.

It was formed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to be part of the group saying it was a "monologue" and a ploy by Mnangagwa to legitimise his presidency, which is in dispute.