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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter

THE school feeding programme continues countrywide on a full scale in the new term, with 27 000 tonnes of mealie meal distributed yesterday to both rural and urban learning institutions ahead of their opening next week.

The 27 000 tonnes of mealie meal will benefit 4 000 schools and more will be delivered as the term progresses.

This is part of measures to ensure schoolchildren are properly fed after the majority of crops were ravaged by the El Nino drought.

Yesterday at the Grain Marketing Board Cleveland depot in Harare, maize meal was transported to GMB depots countrywide where school authorities will collect their allocations.

The drought prompted the Government to introduce a school feeding programme and food aid distribution to ensure that all food-insecure people are fed.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said rural schools will be allocated a larger share.

“Modalities are that we are delivering maize meal and schools will pick up from GMB points so they have started picking up mealie meal from depots. Each school will pick up its monthly allocation from the nearest GMB depot,” he said.

Mr Munyaradzi Majoni of the Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads said the school feeding programme was a welcome development .

“The initiative is a good step taken by the Government. We appeal to them to introduce the programme to all public schools,” he said.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said the impact of the school feeding programme had been significant and the ministry was continually monitoring and evaluating the programme to ensure its effectiveness and to make necessary adjustments.

“Currently, we are in the process of finalising the logistics for the upcoming term. The programme targets thousands of schools across the country in primary and secondary schools, focusing on both urban and rural areas to ensure that vulnerable children receive the support they need, that is to say, at least one hot meal a day.

“Additionally, feedback from teachers and parents highlights improvements in overall pupil well-being, including better health and increased engagement in classroom activities,” he said.

Mr Ndoro indicated that schools have reported increased enrolment and reduced absenteeism since the programme’s implementation.

He also encouraged home-grown feeding initiatives such as growing vegetables and tomatoes to ensure the smooth flow of the programme.

Zimbabweans have welcomed the initiative saying it will alleviate hunger in schools.

Mr Takudzwa Muringai of Warren Park suburb in Harare said: “We welcome the development. The majority are food insecure so we applaud the Government for introducing a programme that will sustain schoolchildren. We are glad that the programme was also extended to urban areas”.

Mrs Charity Munemo from Mabvuku hailed the decision taken by the Government to alleviate hunger saying the move will motivate children to go to school.