12 schools in Lundazi District of Eastern Province are set to benefit from the Government’s Emergence School Feeding programme which is expected to last for 14 months. 

The programme is one of the ambitious social protection programmes that the government has devised in its quest to ensure that no Zambian dies of hunger.

Among the schools to benefit are Lundazi Day Secondary and Kanele Primary Schools targeting pupils from early learners to Grade 12 pupils.

Lundazi District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Ired Zulu said the emergence school feeding was one of the drought response initiatives that will ensure that learners in schools which were not on the Mary’s Meals school feeding programme were provided with food whilst at school.

She said the move will help address issues of absenteeism as well as provide the much needed nutritional requirements to the pupils in the middle of the drought-induced hunger.

Ms Zulu said the government will be responsible for providing maize grain, pulses, and cooking oil adding that all food requirements would be local foods, procured from local farmers, and transported by local transporters.

She said the community would be responsible for monitoring the procurement procedure.

Ms Zulu further outlined that the community would also be expected to participate in the temporary cooking and feeding shelters.