Source: Government moves early to expand school feeding before drought hits – herald
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
Government has moved to expand the national school feeding programme before the anticipated 2026/27 El Niño-induced drought hits, broadening coverage to more schools and vulnerable districts while strengthening school-based food production to protect learners from hunger.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said the early intervention is part of a wider Government strategy to cushion children from the effects of a possible drought, with nutrition gardens, small livestock projects, solar-powered irrigation schemes and food prepositioning being rolled out ahead of the rainy season.
Ministry spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said authorities were taking action well before any food shortages emerge, describing school feeding as a critical social protection programme that would continue uninterrupted.
“As we prepare for the 2026/27 season, Government is fully aware of the potential threat posed by an El Niño-induced drought, and we are taking proactive measures to ensure that the school feeding programme continues uninterrupted. We will not wait for the rains to fail before acting because school feeding remains a critical social protection intervention,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said Government had expanded the programme to secondary schools and was increasing coverage in drought-prone districts, including Binga, Chivi, Kariba, Nkayi, Lupane, uMguza and Bubi, where thousands of learners are already receiving daily hot meals.
“We have extended school feeding to secondary schools and are increasing coverage in areas such as Binga, Chivi, Kariba, Nkayi, Lupane, uMguza and Bubi, where thousands of learners are already receiving daily hot meals. We are also assessing the feasibility of providing two meals a day to the most vulnerable learners in severely affected communities,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said schools were also being transformed into centres of food production through nutrition gardens, small livestock projects and solar-powered irrigation schemes to improve self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on external food supplies.
He said the programme had been integrated into the national Early Warning System, allowing authorities to identify food-stressed districts and vulnerable learners early enough to preposition grain and other food supplies before shortages occur.
Government is also working with development partners, including UNICEF and the World Food Programme, to mobilise food, funding and technical support, while communities, parents and volunteer groups are contributing labour, maintaining nutrition gardens and preparing meals.
Mr Ndoro said the school feeding programme remained a key pillar of National Development Strategy 2 and assured parents that no child would be denied an education because of hunger.
“I want to assure parents and guardians that Government remains committed to ensuring that children continue receiving nutritious and balanced meals throughout the El Niño season. Through a combination of Government support, community participation and school-based food production, we are building resilience to ensure that no child is denied the opportunity to learn because of hunger,” he said.
Climate forecasts indicate a high probability of El Niño conditions developing during the 2026/27 rainfall season, with Government implementing early interventions across agriculture, water, health and education to reduce the potential impact of the anticipated dry spell.
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