First Lady takes school feeding programme to Zaka…

Tendai Rupapa in ZAKA

Thousands of learners drawn from all districts in Masvingo Province, were recently treated to a mouth-watering and balanced traditional meal, courtesy of health ambassador, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who took her schools feeding programme there to enhance their cognitive abilities, promote concentration in class and reduce school dropout rates caused by hunger.

The move also complements Government efforts to keep children in school in the wake of the El Nino-induced drought, affecting the country and other SADC countries.

The mother of the nation held an interactive session with the community where she spoke candidly against drug and substance abuse, promoted discipline, hard work and encouraged the consumption of traditional meals which are nutritious and have medicinal properties.

She said it was critical for parents to monitor children at all times and ensuring they were well-fed before leaving for school.

Amai Mnangagwa brings meat, a variety of dried vegetables (mufushwa), sugar beans and peanut butter among other items to add to the feeding.

A hands-on person, the First Lady grows a variety of vegetables and she dries some of them.

Assisted by members of the community, the First Lady prepared and served the meal which comprised sadza, beef stew, goat stew, maguru, matumbu, rice in peanut butter, samp in peanut butter, dried vegetables, fresh vegetables and home-made sour milk (hodzeko).

The children were also given drinks and water.

“Idyai mupedze vazukuru vangu so that you grow strong and healthy. The traditional meal you are partaking in is healthy and nutritious therefore, you should ask your mothers to prepare such meals at home which are readily available,” the mother of the nation could be heard saying as she monitored the children who were munching with delight.

After eating the well-cooked food, the children engaged in a tug of war to show the First Lady that they had eaten nutritious food.

Mixed boys and girls from different schools defied their small frames as they battled for honours. So thrilling was the game that people chose teams to support with the young learners putting maximum effort. The First Lady could be seen running about as she rooted for her team which in the end, emerged victorious.

Nine-year-old Praise Garikai from Chikwanda Primary School lit up the event when she recited a poem against drug and sexual abuse in a humorous and educative manner.

Dr Mnangagwa warned learners against dabbling in drugs and encouraged them to report any form of abuse against them.

“I am glad for your presence here parents as we assist one another in this programme where I work with you as we teach our children the correct path to follow and to be well-mannered at all times. The children come to school, but they would have come from our homes, therefore vanofanira kutangira kudzidzisirwa hunhu kumba. We wish to thank God for giving us these children, naizvozvo, let us play our part and nurture them.

“Today, I have come with the schools feeding programme, which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education under the leadership of President Mnangagwa. Change of climate brought about the El Nino-induced drought and there was a food deficit. Therefore, as mothers let us get into the fields so that our crops come in handy.

“I brought the Pfumvudza4She initiative so that we grow something tangible for our children to eat and be nourished. In the olden days our elders consumed traditional dishes and herbs that made them strong and lived for many years; this is what we must follow,” she said.

During the rainy season, Amai Mnangagwa said, many vegetables germinate, and encouraged people to eat the vegetables and preserve some for future use.

“We want to teach our children to consume bodybuilding foods and also that they respect our cultural norms and values as Zimbabweans. We say no to those who are swayed by Western cultures. We should all be proud of our country and all that surround it, especially our norms and values.

“These are some of the things we teach our children in the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba programme. What must we do to preserve our produce after harvesting? What did our elders use in those years gone by?” she asked.

In response, the people said ash was used as a preservative.

She enjoined women to dry their vegetables and fruits as a form of preservation for future use.

“Let us dry our food for future use. I personally grow different vegetables and dry them. Even at my office I have a backyard garden. I grow groundnuts and make peanut butter for our children. If I finish my stocks, I promote women who grow vegetables for sale, so I buy from them and dry the vegetables which I then use in programmes like these.

“If I can do it, madzimai why can you also not do it at your homesteads? Let us be dignified mothers who are not found in gossip and promiscuity. Our families and our children look up to us.

“Let us prepare foods that nourish the bodies. I was impressed by the way the children ate as they loved the food. If children are well-fed, they perform well in class,” she said.

The mother of the nation had a word of advice for the youths.

“Stay away from drugs. You are the future, but how can that be possible if you are ruined by drugs. All that will be left for you is death. Even to older persons, I say no to drugs. Let us be role models to our children,” she said.

Masvingo Provincial Education director, Mrs Shylet Mhike, said the feeding programme is a huge success.

“We have many districts in Masvingo and all schools in those districts received food aid from President Mnangagwa which is making children not miss school and we thank the President for that. Today Amai you have come to fulfil your heartfelt desire in support of such an important programme.

“The children savoured the traditional dishes you prepared for them and no one left any food on their plate. The plates were left sparkling clean showing they really enjoyed the food.

“I was also delighted by the poem recited by Praise against drug and sexual abuse. She learnt this in the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba programme where you are teaching the children good manners and to report all forms of abuse,” she said.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her beneficial programmes.

“As Masvingo Province, we are grateful for the programmes that you bring us. Today you have remembered us as we conclude the year in happiness. You unveiled development projects for widows and they are doing well.

“They now boast over 40 000 chickens in their poultry project. They are also keeping huge profits from the shops you started for them. The work that you are doing is uplifting the lives of the people Today you are here complementing Government efforts on school feeding.

“This programme you are taking it to all provinces without leaving any place behind as you encourage children to embrace traditional food which is readily available. Amai, learners no longer abscond school because of hunger and for that we are mostly grateful,” he said.

Chief Ndanga, Mr Wilson Makono, praised the First Lady for always being with the people, unlike in the past when leaders were largely seen on television.

“In the olden days we used to just see leaders on television, but these children you see here will not sleep today. They say I have been fed by the First Lady. Our elders say you cannot teach an old dog to bark. It must be taught while young.

“We welcome your programme focusing on children, you have done well. In most cases, our cultural norms and values are lost because we would have failed when the children were still young. But if we look at all the programmes that you have come with from Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba as you work with your Angel of Hope Foundation, you mostly focus on the respect for cultural norms and values starting from our children,” he said.

Chief Ndanga said by giving children food, the First Lady was setting a good example for other mothers to see to it that their children were well-fed.

“You said a lot as you taught the women and those with ears have heard because good manners are all we yearn for,” he said as he praised the First Lady for speaking out against drugs.

So touched with the programme were the villagers that they too spoke glowingly of the First Lady’s programme.

Mrs Vongai Takaruvetsa said she was touched by the First Lady’s teachings that help carry the nation forward.

“I am so thankful to the First Lady for her school feeding programme and for personally teaching the children what is good and what is wrong. She is setting a good example for us to follow,” she said.

Mrs Rosaria Marizayi weighed in saying: “I have learnt something valuable from the First Lady that cooking for the children is one thing and quite the other to ensure that they eat the food as you monitor them.

“She also touched on important issues like drug abuse that should be nipped in the bud to ensure that our children grow into responsible adults who will be the future leaders of the nation.”

The learners also expressed gratitude to the First Lady.

Simbarashe Bunga from Bikita said he was happy to have been fed by the First Lady.

“I enjoyed being served a meal by the First Lady. It’s an experience of a lifetime which I have just had. She actually urged me to eat all the food so that I can grow into a big healthy boy,” he said.

Sheila Moyo of Masvingo also said: “This was the best day of my life where I got the opportunity to interact with other learners from the province.

“We were also taught about the dangers of drug and substance abuse as well as the need to respect our parents at all times. The First Lady cheered us up and in the end we won the tug of war.” – Herald