Zimbabwe govt dismisses school renaming claims

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed speculation over the renaming of schools in the Mbare/Hatfield District, clarifying that a circulating document is merely part of a preliminary internal consultation process.

Ministry Director of Communications and Advocacy Taungana Ndoro said the document had been misinterpreted, triggering unnecessary public concern.

"We have noted the circulation of an internal working document regarding the possible renaming of certain schools in the Mbare/Hatfield District. We wish to clarify the context in order to avoid unnecessary speculation," he said.

Ndoro explained that the memo was part of routine internal procedures used to gather initial views and proposals from a limited number of schools on administrative and policy issues.

"This particular exercise is simply an initial request for suggestions—nothing more. It is not a decision, a directive, or an announcement of imminent changes," he said.

He stressed that no school names have been altered and no formal proposal has been submitted to relevant authorities.

"Any future consideration of name changes would require a comprehensive and inclusive stakeholder engagement process, involving parents, alumni, local communities, traditional leaders and other interested parties," Ndoro added.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency and preserving Zimbabwe's educational heritage, while noting that discussions around renaming institutions — particularly those with colonial-era origins — have surfaced before, but no final decisions have been taken.