Joyce Mukombi, Chabata High School

In the midst of severe drought and food insecurity among households in Buhera South, the government of Zimbabwe in collaboration with Roman Catholic Church, provided food relief for villagers.

The distribution took place at Chabata Primary School, targeting school-going children whose families are struggling to provide adequate nutrition. Students from Chabata Primary, Nehumambi Primary, and Chabata High School were beneficiaries of this program.

Headmaster at Chabata Primary School stated that the food relief offered by government and the Roman Catholic Church goes a long way in providing nutrition feeds for children of school going age whose families are struggling to provide them with food in the midst of the El Nino induced droughts that affected most households.

“We have a total of 1,117 pupils enrolled at the school. We received 95 bags of mealie-meal that will be used to make Maheu as part of the school feeding scheme to prevent malnutrition among school going children. The children will be fed three days a week,” said Chabata Primary School Headmaster, Mr Tomwe.

Chabata Secondary School Headmaster, Mr Chiumira stated that of the 598 learners enrolled at the school, 257 are set to benefit from the scheme.

“The feeding scheme by the government in support from the Roman Catholic Church has been introduced as a pilot project, so Chabata Primary and Secondary, then Nehumambi benefitted in Buhera South. However, the government and Roman Catholic Church should also consider the pupils who were left behind in the feeding scheme. The food we have received so far only benefits form 1 and 2 pupils, despite the challenges we are grateful of the government and Roman Catholic initiative in providing food relief for school going children in the midst of the El Nino induced droughts,” said Headmaster Chiumira.