Zimbabwe’s National Schools Feeding Programme is facing serious challenges, as schools only receive mealie-meal without relish, placing financial strain on parents.
This issue was raised in Parliament by Warren Park MP Shakespeare Hamauswa (CCC) after legislators conducted public consultations with their constituencies.
He said the programme has become unsustainable, with some schools asking parents to contribute one dollar for relish. Said Hamauswa (via <a href="https://cite.org.zw/parents-step-in-to-fund-school-meals/">CITE</a>):
<blockquote>
We learnt during public consultations that schools are receiving mealie-meal without any relish, which is resulting in parents being asked to contribute a dollar each so that they buy relish for their children.
Sometimes you find a bucket of beans, which is then processed so that they have enough food.
My request is that the responsible Ministry and the Minister of Social Welfare should look into the issue so that the programme becomes beneficial to children because we are told they are getting mealie-meal and you cannot eat sadza (isitshwala) without any relish.
</blockquote>
Hamauswa called for effective solutions to ensure the school feeding programme fulfils its goal of combating hunger and keeping children in school.
He pointed out that despite a US$15 million allocation for relish, students are still eating sadza (isitshwala) without relish. Said the legislator:
<blockquote>
This is bad enough because some children are not going to school because of lack of food… I am also informed that there is US$15 million which is earmarked for buying relish but surprisingly, those children who can read newspapers that there is an allocation of US$15 million, might be asking where the US$15 million is whilst they are eating sadza without relish.
This programme is a flagship of our government programmes which shows the national outlook of the interventions that are made by the government but this programme might not achieve the intended or desired results.
</blockquote>
Some learners sitting for the end-of-year Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) exams are doing so on an empty stomach.
Hamauswa questioned why parents and guardians were asked to contribute money for transport, given the government’s prohibition on communities contributing money to move grain from GMB depots.
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The school feeding program in Zimbabwe is facing challenges because schools only receive mealie-meal without relish, so parents are being asked to contribute money for relish. Some schools even process beans to have enough food. A lawmaker raised this issue in Parliament, saying it's unsustainable. He called for the Ministry to find solutions so that children can have proper meals at school, as some students are going hungry. Even though there is money allocated for relish, students are still eating sadza without any relish. The lawmaker also questioned why parents are asked to contribute money for transport when the government prohibits communities from contributing money to move grain from GMB depots.

Parents Step In To Fund School Feeding Programme

The Government has launched a school feeding programme for learners in targeted districts such as Binga, Chivi and Kariba, to combat malnutrition and prevent children from dropping out of school.
The UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recently warned that around 580,000 Zimbabwean children are at risk of severe malnutrition.
The Director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, told <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/schools-feeding-programme-resumes-2/">State media</a> that some schools may not be eligible for the scheme.
He said the goal of the feeding programme is to improve children’s nutrition and dietary diversity and prevent wasting. He said:
<blockquote>
These districts were selected due to their high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition among school-going children.
When choosing the eligibility of a school, several factors like poverty rates, food security indicators, malnutrition prevalence and the vulnerability of the school’s catchment area are considered.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in collaboration with other development partners are working tirelessly to ensure that these children are helped and they get the food needed.
</blockquote>
Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF’s representative in Zimbabwe, said that around 580,000 children in Zimbabwe under 5 years of age are experiencing severe child food poverty, making them up to 50 per cent more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition. He said:
<blockquote>
Food insecurity among Zimbabwean children could further deteriorate in 2024 with the El Nino-induced drought that has caused above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall, with a ‘historic’ mid-season dry spell over the 2023/2024 agricultural season.
It is urgent to address child food poverty today to avoid more children being pushed into a life-threatening status of severe malnutrition.
</blockquote>
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