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.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

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 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, has revealed its leadership in Parliament. The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Advocate Mudenda, announced the appointments during a Parliament session that concluded with a two-week recess. In a statement released by the party on February 16, 2024, it was disclosed that Clifford Hlatywayo has been appointed as the Leader of the house in the National Assembly.
<img alt="Clifford Hlatywayo CCC MP Chipinge" class="alignnone wp-image-271197" decoding="async" height="302" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge-300x169.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge-300x169.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge-768x432.jpg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge-1320x743.jpg 1320w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Clifford-Hlatywayo-CCC-MP-Chipinge.jpg 1920w" width="536"/>
The CCC’s Chief Administrator and Leader of the Bureau of Administration, Senator Jameson Timba, made several additional appointments to address leadership gaps within Parliament.
Advocate Agency Gumbo (MP Hatcliffe) was assigned to head the Bureau of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. His role is to collaborate with the CCC leadership in Parliament and establish a connection between the Party leadership in the Bureau of Administration and the Parliament leadership. This coordination aims to define and implement the citizens’ agenda within the parliamentary space.
Furthermore, Senator Jameson Timba made appointments to various domestic and international committees of Parliament. Notable appointments include:
A. Parliament Leadership
1. Senate Chief Whip – Hon Sessel Zvidzai
2. Lower House Chief Whip &amp; Overall Whip – Hon Nomathemba Ndlovu
3. Deputy Chief Whip – Hon Doc Shakespeare Hamauswa
B. Local Committees
B.1. Standing Rules &amp; Orders Committee
Hon Wellington Chikombo
Hon Thomas Mawodzera
B.2 Chairperson Higher Education – Hon Minenhle Gumede
B.3 Women’s Parliamentary Caucus
Deputy Chair – Hon Sethulo Ndebele
Secretary – Hon. Concilia Chinanzvavana
Organizer – Senator Grace Gwature
B.4 Parliamentary Legal Committee – Hon Advocate Martin Mureri
C. International Parliamentary Committees
C.1 International Parliamentary Union – Hon Prosper Mutseyami
C.2 African Caribbean Pacific/EU – Hon Gladys Hlathwayo
C.3 ASSECAA – Hon Maggie Chakabuda
The Speaker of Parliament confirmed and announced these appointments on Thursday, coinciding with the adjournment of Parliament for a two-week recess.
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The CCC Reveals Leadership In Zimbabwe Parliament

An MDC MP youth Wing official have been arrested on allegations of shooting a Zanu PF district youth chairperson with an AK47 rifle.
The duo is Warren Park MP Shakespeare Hamauswa and the party’s deputy youth chairperson, Shakespeare Mukoyi.
The MDC officials’ lawyer, Obey Shava, revealed that Mukoyi was nabbed on Monday while Hamauswa was arrested on Tuesday. Said Shava:
<blockquote>The police alleged that the duo fired live ammunition towards the Zanu PF youth chairperson named Voyage and immediately after committing the offence, they disappeared. The two were recorded a warned and cautioned statement.
The accused people are denying the allegations and they are saying the charges are politically-motivated and malicious, in essence, that they are saying they never wore army uniforms or held an AK47 rifle in their lifetime.</blockquote>
Shava, who is a member of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), further revealed that the duo is facing attempted murder charges. The police said that they will proceed by way of summons when investigations are completed.
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