Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A TOTAL of 65 primary schools in Bulilima District have received a donation of rice from President Mnangagwa, which was delivered by the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu.
President Mnangagwa allocated four tonnes of rice to all legislators in the country, which are going to be distributed to communities.
Speaking recently during a ceremony to hand over the rice at Dombodema High School, Dr Ndlovu said the intervention will complement the school feeding programme. She said the donation was in line with President’s Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind as the country moves towards attainment of Vision 2030.
“We were allocated four tonnes of rice each as legislators across the country so that we could give it to the community and I saw it fit to distribute this rice among schools,” said Dr Ndlovu.
“This rice will go a long way in ensuring that learners have access to food while at school, which will also help them to concentrate in school.
“I would like to express gratitude towards His Excellency, our President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa for this generous act to ensure that people are fed. Our President is a listening leader who has the people’s interests at heart. We are glad that as Matabeleland South we have not been left behind in this initiative.”
The minister urged school authorities to ensure that the rice donation served its intended purpose, which is to cater for the welfare of learners. She also urged various stakeholders to work with Government in ensuring that the welfare of learners and their learning conditions are improved.
Dr Ndlovu also encouraged learners to remain committed in their studies and strive for excellence as she warned of dangers of harmful practices such as drug and substance abuse.
Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director, Mrs Beatrice Manjere, said feeding of children is one of the key strategies of improving learning outcomes. She said the rice will go a long way in complementing what schools have been given under the school feeding programme.
“As a ministry one of our major concerns is the welfare of learners. We want learners to be exposed to an environment and circumstances that allow them to learn and concentrate in school,” she said.
“These include access to proper learning infrastructure, stationery, furniture, teachers and even food. This intervention will help us to create an enabling environment for learners.”
Chief Hikwa from Bulilima District said the intervention has come at the right time when parents were still grappling with the effects of the El-Nino induced drought. She said farming is one of the major food sources for people in the rural areas and the drought situation had left many households in despair.
Chief Hikwa expressed her gratitude to President Mnangagwa for assisting communities and thanked Dr Ndlovu for prioritising schools to ensure that the welfare of learners is taken care of.-@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter