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Ellen Chasokela Herald Reporter

There is need for the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to scale up on its social protection programmes in response to increasing poverty and food insecurity challenges.

This came out yesterday when the ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary Mr Erasmus Gapara appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare chaired by legislator Emma Ncube.

Mr Gapara said the interventions were being implemented in an effort to cushion the generality of the population.

“Whilst Treasury is yet to issue out the 2020 Budget Strategy Paper and Call Circular, the following are the ministry’s priorities for the 2020 as agreed at the ministry’s strategic planning review workshop.

“Our interventions include harmonised social cash transfer, food deficit mitigation strategy, basic education assistance module (BEAM), support for persons with disability, public service pension fund, Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act and secretariat, Zimbabwe National Productivity Institute, retrenchee databases and review of the national employment policy,’’ he said.

Mr Gapara said Cyclone Idai and erratic rainfall during the 2018-2019 farming season impacted negatively on food security and related inventions.

“The food deficit mitigation strategy is being scaled up to provide food assistance to over five million food-poor people up to about March 2020.

“In an effort to enhance transparency and accountability, the ministry shall, unlike before, be responsible for the procurement of the grain as well.

“Cash transfers are being given to means-tested households in 23 districts under the Harmonised Cash Transfer Programme. Due to the depreciation of the RTGS$, it has been proposed that payments under this programme be pegged at interbank rate.

Meanwhile, those districts not yet on the Harmonised Cash Transfer Programme have continued to benefit under the traditional public assistance.

“In line with the Social Welfare Act, those members of society who cannot afford health assistance will get medical treatment under the assisted treatment orders (AMTOs).

“All arrears that had accumulated over the years were cleared, thanks to Treasury.

“The Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) received a supplementary estimate of $115 million in addition to the original estimate of $25 million, bringing the total to $140 million.

“So far, a total of $99,1 million has been released by the ministry. This is enough to clear all BEAM arrears and pay part of 2019 fees.

“These efforts by Government should go a long way to inspiring public confidence in the programme,’’ he said.