PUPILS TO STARVE AS ZONDLE OUT OF FOOD

MBABANE – Public schools may well be opening to a new crisis today as the schools’ feeding programme known as Zondle has no food.

Schools that are on this programme have to make do with whatever stock of food was left before they closed for the festive season, close to two months ago. Those that have far too little or nothing must hang on until the next delivery of food comprising beans, mealie-meal and rice.

It is unknown when the food will be made available to the schools.
The Ministry of Education and Training – it transpired – issued a circular to all schools, that are beneficiaries of the feeding programme a few weeks before closure in December 2015, that they must take heed and not waste any food resources. This was because it was already anticipated that there would be a delay in replenishing the pantries by the time schools opened today. Unconfirmed reports attributed this to setbacks in the food tendering system, while others have alleged that government does not have enough monetary resources to buy the food for schools.

Minister of Education and Training Phineas Magagula, when asked to clarify on this matter, said the ministry nutritionists were better placed to do that. But what he made clear was that he wanted all pupils to eat when they were at school. Unfortunately the ministry nutritionists he referred to were said to be out of office when this reporter called yesterday. Patrick Muir, the ministry’s Principal Secretary, could not be interviewed as his mobile phone rang unanswered for most of yesterday.
Meanwhile, Swaziland Principals Association (SWAPA) Deputy President Welcome Mhlanga confirmed that head teachers received letters late last year which told them to economise on the little that was left.

“We were told to keep watch because there would be a delay when schools reopen in the following year. Interestingly, some schools had already exhausted their food resources by the time they closed. So there could be a challenge when it comes to food,” said Mhlanga in an interview.

Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga expressed awareness of the said circular as well. He said the explanation they received was that there were certain setbacks with the food tendering system.
Muzi said he foresaw a number of pupils in many schools, especially rural, struggling to learn if the little that was left was exhausted. He hoped that food would be delivered sooner than later.

“The food provided through Zondle goes a long way in helping pupils stay focused in school. Many of them come from poverty stricken homes and solely depend on the school kitchens for breakfast and lunch,” he said.
He opined that it seemed that government was being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the obligations that it must undertake. He said this from the backdrop of the growing need for more money for the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Fund, among others. The school feeding programme is undertaken countrywide, in both primary and high schools where all pupils are allowed to have a full meal per day.

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