Zimpapers Logo

In their appeal, the schools argue there was an urgent need to provide farming land, especially to boarding schools in the district.

Some of these schools had resources to buy farming inputs and expertise, yet they were grappling with food shortages.

Zaka District Education Officer Mr Andrew Chokuwe-nga said it was imperative for the Government to allocate schools in the district farms to grow food crops.

He said the education with production concept was popular among schools in Zaka, but pointed out that progress was being hampered by shortage of land.

“We are appealing to the Government to prioritise schools in the allocation of resettlement land because there is an urgent need of agricultural land among most schools in Zaka district. There are many schools located close to farms that have not yet been acquired for resettlement purposes and these farms could be of great importance to the schools.

“We have always wanted to embark on education with production and for us to complement the Government fully in the ongoing land reform programme, we feel some schools here in Zaka should also be allocated farms and that will go a long way in enhancing food security,” said Mr Chokuwenga.

He said most schools had excelled in education with production by embarking on various farming activities.

Mr Chokuwenga said the Catholic-run St Anthony’s High and Jichidza Mission needed land urgently.

“These two boarding schools, Jichidza Mission and St Anthony’s, are in urgent need of land (farms), which they can use to grow their own food so we appeal to the Government to do something for them,” said Mr Chokuwenga.

Zaka is one of the driest districts in Masvingo Province and is always affected by droughts, forcing villagers to rely on food relief from the Government and aid agencies.

However, some of the food from NGOs comes with strings attached for political reasons.