Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Zimpapers Writer
THE Government has suspended disbursements under the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) amid concerns over abuse of the system, as it moves to introduce a new beneficiary selection template aimed at improving transparency and targeting.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said the Government remains committed to clearing the legacy Beam debt — currently standing at more than ZWG7 billion — while ensuring the programme continues in a more transparent and targeted manner.
Speaking on the sidelines of his ministry’s strategic planning workshop in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Minister Moyo said the debt had accumulated due to unforeseen shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic, droughts, and cyclone-induced disasters that disrupted national cash flows.
“From 2023 to 2025, we acknowledge that debt, but it was not a deliberate act by the Government. The recovery from Covid-19, drought, and cyclone disasters that befell us affected cash flows in the country. However, as a Government, we remain committed to clearing those arrears. Going forward, the Government assures the nation that Beam will continue, but in a refined space,” he said.
He said over ZWG$60 million has already been disbursed this year, with a significant portion directed towards special schools catering for the most vulnerable learners.
Minister Moyo said a new Beam manual will soon be introduced to guide the improved selection process.
“We realised that there are people who could have been benefitting from Beam, yet they are not supposed to. The Beam manual will target people who genuinely deserve assistance, and we believe that the number is far less than 1.5 million,” he said.
The Government is also integrating Beam into the National Social Protection System through the social registry — a database being developed to accurately identify vulnerable individuals and households across the country.
“Going forward, Beam will integrate social protection systems through the social registry, which is currently being established so that it’s known exactly how many people are vulnerable and from which areas,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the new template is expected to be ready by the end of the year, after which school administrators and School Development Committees (SDCs) will be trained on how to apply it.
“We are also considering introducing another small supervisory layer so that the selection does not end with the school heads and their committees. We want our social development officers to have oversight because they know how to determine those who truly need assistance,” added Minister Moyo.
He reiterated that no child under Beam should be excluded from school, underscoring the Government’s unwavering commitment to education for all.
Introduced in 2001, Beam is one of Zimbabwe’s key pro-poor social protection programmes, aimed at ensuring access to education for children from marginalised and vulnerable communities. The fund covers school fees, levies, examination fees, and building assistance at both primary and secondary levels.
Over the years, Beam has supported millions of learners across the country. However, recent audits have revealed gaps in targeting and accountability, prompting the Government to overhaul the system to restore integrity and ensure that only deserving learners benefit.
