By Dumisani Ndlovu
The Zimbabwe government is set to roll-out a school feeding programme, with pupils expected to start accessing at least one meal per day at school, social welfare minister has said.
The school feeding scheme which was introduced in 2016, starting with infants, before it was extended to Grade 7s will resume following the imminent worst draught necessitated by the effects of El Nino in Zimbabwe last farming season.
Speaking in Parliament, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo told the National Assembly that the Government has given priority to school children in terms of food provision in the country.
“In collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we are going to embark on school feeding programmes so that children remain in schools without being affected by food shortages. We are also going to be working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and Rural Development to get all the necessary details about food security in the country. We do not want to leave anyone behind in terms of food provision this year, or food shortage caused by the effects of El Nino,” he said.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education already has its running projects but when we face such a challenge as a nation, we collaborate to make sure children remain in the schools,” he added.
Moyo said learners with disabilities will get first preference when meals are served in schools.
“When we are distributing food aid, our first priority is people living with disabilities, the aged, child headed families, and finally, we also look at other families which are struggling with food shortages. Our main priority are the first groups which I have already mentioned which are the old aged, disabled and child headed families,” he said.
For poor families with several children in school, the loss of a school meal increases food supply pressure at home.
Benefits of school feeding include alleviating hunger, reducing micro-nutrient deficiency, improving school enrolment and attendance, increasing cognitive and academic performance, and contributing to gender equity in access to education.
