Debra Matabvu
A recent audit of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) has revealed that children of teachers, headmasters and politicians are among the beneficiaries of the programme, Finance Secretary George Guvamatanga has said.
Speaking during an online media briefing on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings, Mr Guvamatanga said preliminary audit findings showed that many beneficiaries, particularly in urban schools, were children of headmasters, teachers and prominent politicians.
The Zimbabwean delegation, comprising Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Mr Guvamatanga and other Government officials, is in Bangkok, Thailand, for the annual meetings.
Mr Guvamatanga was responding to the IMF’s approval of the completion of the second review under Zimbabwe’s 10-month Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP).
The review highlighted the country’s failure to meet targets for protected social and priority spending.
He said the shortfall was partly due to the Government withholding funding for BEAM pending the outcome of the audit.
“It is important to note that the targets mentioned in the review were for a specific area, in this case BEAM and not the broader social services sector,” he said.
“In other areas, such as health and sanitation, the Government has continued providing funding. However, funding for BEAM was temporarily suspended pending the audit.”
He added that the suspension followed preliminary findings that many beneficiaries did not qualify for assistance, with children of teachers and politicians among those benefiting from the programme.
“This is because there were many non-qualifying beneficiaries in most cases, teachers’ children and key politicians were beneficiaries,” he said.
“This is mostly happening in schools in cities and towns. The audit is still ongoing, and we have realised that the issues are much deeper than we initially thought.”
However, Mr Guvamatanga said the Government had so far released ZiG 400 million to fund BEAM beneficiaries in remote and rural areas, as well as special schools.
“What we have done is identify vulnerable and special schools,” he said.
“By this, we mean schools in remote and rural areas, as well as those catering for learners with physical and intellectual disabilities.
“We have paid about ZiG 400 million to these schools. The Government has continued to disburse funds for other social services, including Pfumvudza/Intwasa, health and sanitation.
“Once the audit is completed, we will resume funding BEAM beneficiaries in schools in cities and towns.”
Mr Guvamatanga said the Government expected to address the issue before the third review of the Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP), following corrective measures already taken.
