Zimbabwe Showcases Home-Grown Education Financing Model in Dar es Salaam

Zimbabwe has presented its innovative strategies for funding education at the 5th International Quality Education Conference, being held at the Julius Nyerere Convention Centre in Tanzania.

The National Director of the Zimbabwe Foundation for Education with Production (ZIMFEP), Cde Gideon Chiukira, praised the Government of Zimbabwe for its efforts in mobilising domestic resources to sustain the education sector despite more than two decades of sanctions.

Speaking during a panel session titled “Reimagining Financing Frameworks: Making Every Shilling Count for Education  Leveraging Tax Reforms to Fund Public Education”, Chiukira highlighted that Zimbabwe has relied on internal solutions rather than waiting for external partners, although international support is still welcomed.

“Zimbabwe has been under sanctions since the early 2000s, but we have taken an innovative approach to protect the education sector. We have designed home-grown systems to make sure our children continue receiving quality education,” Chiukira said.

He pointed to community-based financing initiatives such as the Community Share Ownership Scheme, which requires mining companies to dedicate part of their profits to community trusts. These funds are then used for development projects that include school construction, provision of textbooks, and other educational support programmes.

“This approach ensures that local communities benefit directly from natural resource wealth, while also reinforcing education financing. It is about ensuring that every dollar is used wisely, even when external aid is limited,” he added.

The conference, organised by the Tanzania Education Network (Miradoa wa Elimu Tanzania), has brought together education policymakers, development partners, and civil society organisations from across Africa. It focuses on domestic resource mobilisation as a way to support inclusive and sustainable education systems across the continent.

Running under the theme “Strengthening Systems and Investments: Advancing Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Inclusive, Quality and Sustainable Education in Africa”, the three-day event provides a platform to exchange best practices and explore reforms in tax and public investment policies.

Zimbabwe’s participation demonstrates its commitment to strengthening education through local financing models, showcasing resilience in the face of ongoing economic challenges. Discussions at the conference will continue throughout the week, with sessions focusing on community participation, tax reforms, and strategies to achieve education for all.