By JEREMIAH HARRISON
MATABELELAND NORTH- Organization of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP) in conjunction with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) and Mary Meals commemorated Africa Day of Schools Feeding program in Bubi District, in Matabeleland North last week on Friday.
The event was graced by the Bubi District's Learner Welfare Officer Mrs Sinini Mirandu who was representing the MoPSE.
In her speech, she emphasized that even though the government does provide some schools with feeding, it is important that local communities source their own ingredients to complement the government.
The commemorations were run under the localized theme: "Strengthening the role of Devolution structures for sustainable investment in Home Grown School feeding to transform education systems for inclusive quality learning, nutrition and livelihood outcomes and prosperous Zimbabwe. "
In an interview with this publication, ORAP Communications officer Duduzile Dube shed more light on the importance of this program.
She said, "The schools feeding program implemented by three partners is to ensure the benefitting schools are served an additional warm and nutritious meal per day at school as well as making sure that they do not disrupt the normal school time table."
Two local schools Lukala Primary School and Lukala Secondary School provided the guests with entertainment in the form of dance, drama, songs as well as spoken word.
This was all dedicated to appreciating indigenous foods, fruits, grain and vegetables.
Information gathered by this gazette indicates that Lukala Primary School is among 104 schools that are benefiting from the initiative.
The feeding program team leader Mr Mkhwananzi also advised the community to always seek to do things themselves as per ORAP philosophy.
He also added that parents, teachers and School Development Committee have a mandate to make sure all children have the desire to go to school and providing meals in schools is one way of motivating them especially in this dry spell.
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