…. As government fails to pay BEAM fees for 2 years

By Meditation Mposi

Government has, for two years, failed to disburse funds to schools towards payment of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) fees after the programme was reintroduced, a development that has left many schools struggling.
While several school heads confirmed the issue, efforts to get a comment from the Minister of Public Service July Moyo and the Permanent Secretary Simon Masanga were futile as they were not picking up their phones, until the time of publishing. Masanga did not respond to WhatsApp and direct text messages sent on his number, despite the message indicating that it had been delivered.
Director for Communications in the Ministry of Education Taungana Ndoro confirmed the sad predicament of schools, saying the ministry was trying to engage relevant stakeholders, even though the programme was under the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare.
“We are aware of the situation, but unfortunately the programme is under the Ministry of Public Service. However, some schools received part of the funds this year,” said Ndoro.
Zaka North legislator Ophias Murambiwa who chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education said parliament was aware of the sad development, promising to look into the matter to find a lasting solution to the challenge.
“We had a joint tour of schools across the country with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to ascertain the challenges affecting schools and learning. We noted several challenges and the BEAM issue was topical.
“We are going to call the Ministers of Primary and Secondary Education, Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare and Finance and Economic Development over the matter. We want to find common ground and a lasting solution to the challenge,” said Murambiwa.
School heads who spoke to TellZim News said schools especially those in rural areas were financially struggling, since a sizeable number of learners were on BEAM, with those who are not on the programme reluctant to pay fees as schools are not allowed to send away learners for non-payment of school fees.
School heads who spoke this publication on condition of anonymity said a programme which was supposed to be beneficial to both vulnerable learners and schools was becoming a burden to them, urging government to simply declare free education for all.
“Last year we had 63 learners out of 160 on BEAM. However, of the hundred who were not on the programme, less than 40 learners could afford to pay at least half of the fees. Total fees per term is US$30, which means last year the fees we received was less than US$2 000.
“In this case, what development do you think a school can register with such an amount per year? We urge the government to meet its end of the bargain or abandon the programme if they can’t afford it. Another option is to simply declare free education for all because very few learners are paying,” said the head.
Another head said the school had 170 learners and 55 were on BEAM, but because government was yet to pay the fees, the school was left on its knees as the remainder were also not paying.
“We cannot even afford to pay sport affiliation fees and even sending learners for sports is difficult. It is our appeal that the government pays up so that we can finish projects and start new ones. Parents are now accusing us of not developing the schools whereas it’s not our problem,” said the head.
Another head from Masvingo District said the school had 120 learners out of 350 in 2023 and 117 out of 355 leaners in 2024 on BEAM with a fees structure of US$50 per term.
“The government owes the school about US$18 000 for 2023 fees alone and that amount is so significant for our school. We can do lot of development but currently, we are not doing anything because the little we are getting from the few who are paying is going towards the day-to-day running of the school,” said the head.
The heads lamented the criterion used to select beneficiaries, as well as the timing of selection and payment of the fees when government decided to pay.
“Selection of BEAM beneficiaries is done from mid-term first term or even towards the end of the term. This results in some children starting school mid-term or beginning of the second term.
“The guidelines on BEAM selection are not clear; some communities allocate themselves beneficiaries following a quota system. That means every village head within the school catchment area brings forward his/ her prospective beneficiaries and that promotes corruption.
“BEAM funds are paid, if ever they come at all, in valueless local currency. To cite an example, in 2022 our fees were RTGS8000/ US$40 and if they come now, it’s less than a dollar per child. They are either paid very late or are not paid at all,” said the school head.
Another head said the selection of beneficiaries was done at primary schools, which affect secondary schools, exposing the programme to being overtaken by politicians.
“Selection of BEAM beneficiaries for secondary schools is done at primary schools and very often without representation of secondary schools. This inconveniences the secondary schools.
“BEAM Selection Committees tend to be partisan depending on the personality or professionalism of the local ward councilor who presides over the selection process itself,” said the head.
Another one said the government approach to BEAM hurt schools, because the blame would be laid on the heads who are forced to clean the mess, at the same time not being allowed to send learners away to bring fees for school progression.
“The government’s haphazard and partisan approach to the BEAM issue is impacting negatively on the way schools operate thereby hindering development. The government often resorts to blaming school heads when school development plans are derailed or ground to a halt.
“Arrogance by the government results in the same problems being repeated year after year because it does not empathize with school heads whom they force to clean up the mess they would have created. They deliberately set school administrations on a collision course with communities and that is really bad,” said the head.
Another head said government should stop threatening school heads who send learners home to collect fees and yet its school heads who should threaten government for failing to pay fees.
The heads concurred that if BEAM continued then the government was fast-tracking destruction of the once vibrant education system.
They further said the government was supposed to declare free education for all if it cannot continue paying and must be reminded there was urgent need for constructive engagement of all stakeholders, particularly school heads, who know what’s required in schools as the bad habit of dictating from the comfort of their offices was destroying the country’s future.
BEAM was established in 2001 by the government of Zimbabwe as part of the Enhanced Social Protection Programme (ESPP) the objective was to provide basic education to everyone in Zimbabwe including students who could not afford school fees such as orphans and vulnerable children.
Since its introduction, the number of beneficiaries has varied depending on the year as well as selection criterion, and currently, it is supposed to benefit a total of 1 515 047 learners.
In February this year Masanga was quoted saying the government had cleared arrears for 2022 and was left with 2023 and 2024, with an allocation of ZW$808 087 608 000 for the two years.

By Perpetua Murungweni

After years of false starts, Mucheke and Chimusana bridges refurbishment seems to be taking shape but the timelines remain a maze as responsible authorities are failing to provide information on the progress as well as the amount of money to be used for the projects.
The commencement of construction on two bridges had brought relief and renewed hope to the people of Masvingo who remain eager to know when the projects will be completed and the set budget, with the rainy season fast approaching.
Traffic congestion is a common feature on the highway, with long and winding vehicle queuing the stretch from the Central Business District (CBD) to Masvingo Polytechnic during peak hours of the day affecting traffic flow.
Ministry of Public works Engineer Shadreck Kativhu refused to comment on the progress of the Mucheke and Chimusana Bridges saying that public works department was only responsible with the monitoring of the project.
“I cannot comment on the progress of the project because as public works we are only responsible with monitoring and maintaining the project, nothing more. The person who can comment on that is the provincial roads engineer,” said Kativhu.
Masvingo Provincial roads Engineer Augustine Chingwereve, referred the reporter back to Eng. Kativhu claiming that he could not comment on the matter because he was on leave.
“I am on leave at the moment and I cannot comment on the issue, please contact Eng. Kativhu to assist you,” said Chingwereve.
Kativhu once again referred questions to one Engineer Zindoga from the head office who also failed to comment and referred questions to the secretary for transport.
“Such request should be sent to the secretary for transport, she is the one who then assigns an engineer to help her respond,” said Zindoga.
Secretary for Transport Joy Makumbe also declined to comment and said she had forwarded the request to the publicity officer Judith Nhau.
“I forwarded your request to the publicity officer Judith Nhau, please follow up with her,” Makumbe said.
Nhau answered the phone once before dropping the call and the number kept saying busy several times later.

A routine report seen by this publication however indicated that the construction of the Mucheke Chevron Bridge was expected to be completed in February 2025 and gave an outline of the three bridges.
“Three bridges are now being built across the Mucheke River Bridge on the Harare-Masvingo Beitbridge Road in Masvingo. The first bridge is under construction next to the Chevron Hotel. The other two bridges will form part of the north and southbound carriageways of the Masvingo City Bypass at Chimusana.
“Mucheke Chevron Bridge is a 60 m-long double-lane bridge forming the northbound carriageway of a new 4-lane dual carriageway across the Mucheke River. The old bridge will form part of the southbound carriageway. Construction of the Mucheke Chevron Bridge commenced in June 2024 and is scheduled for completion in February 2025.
“Chimusana structures consist of two new double-lane bridges, each 74m long, forming a 4-lane dual carriageway on the Masvingo City Bypass. The western bridge will carry northbound traffic, while the eastern bridge will carry southbound traffic. Construction of these two bridges commenced in August 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in May 2025,” read the report.
The report added that the construction of the bridge was going to ease congestion in the CBD, as traffic with no business in town will be able to use Chimusana to avoid mixing with city traffic.
“Construction of the bridges is going to benefit Masvingo City by decongesting the CBD. Traffic with no business in the city will be able to bypass the town and avoid mixing with the slower city traffic.
“Decongesting the city means, smooth traffic flow in the city and this will reduce vehicle idling time while waiting to drive across the bridge, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. Pedestrian traffic will have wider foot walks and be separated from vehicular traffic by physical barriers, enhancing pedestrian safety,” the report read.
In their 2012/13 budget, Masvingo City Council had proposed US$800 000 for the widening of Chimusana Bridge and in 2014 council then indicated that the same project needed at least US$2.5million. The council, then under the late Town Clerk Adolf Gusha claimed that the money that was proposed in the 2012 council budget was never collected as residents failed to pay their bills.
In 2018, government cancelled a tender to modernize the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway that had been awarded to Austrian firm, Geiger International and awarded it to five local companies namely Masimba Holdings, Exodus and Company, Fossil Contracting, Bitumen World and Tensor.
In 2022 Masimba Construction Company was the contracted to construct additional bridges on Mucheke River in Masvingo which were aimed at reducing congestion along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2).
Recently, Masimba Holdings issued a notice on the closure to traffic of Chimusana bridge starting from September 17, saying it was meant for the continuation of the Harare-Beitbridge roadworks, but to date, the bridge is yet to be closed.

By Tatiana Mhararira

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with Mwenezi Development Training Centre (MDTC) to support vulnerable households in Chiredzi through the El Nino-induced Drought Response and Adaptation for Rural Communities Project worth more than US$960 000.
The project will benefit 8 600 individuals and around 33 700 livestock living in wards 10, 13, 14 and 15 of Chiredzi district.
The project seeks to enhance access to water, sanitation and hygiene services for members of the community. The project will also improve livestock productivity, accessing markets and increasing incomes to mitigate the challenges faces by these El Nino induced drought.
Chiredzi district is located in Lowveld which lies in natural region 5 was negatively affected by El Nino induced drought which reduced crop yields and this drought caused the villagers in the drought stricken area to suffer from hunger.
The MDTC project’s main agenda includes rehabilitating 15 boreholes with nine of them being converted to solar powered allowing women and girls to get access to clean water and travel short distances to fetch water.
In a press release released by MDTC it said there will be a training session for community members on water point management and promotion of good hygiene.
“To support long term sustainability, the project will provide training for water point user committees (WPUCs) and community members who manage the use of the pump, on the operation and maintenance of water points.
“The project will promote good sanitation and hygiene among 750 individuals, establish 15 community health clubs and promote latrine construction at household levels to reduce open defecation.
Mwenezi Development Training Centre Executive Director, Promise Makoni said MDTC is proud to be first partners to receive donations from USAID.
“MDTC is proud to be the first local non-governmental organisation to receive successive awards from USAID.MDTC is grateful for the continued support and partnership with USAID, which has enabled it to improve the livelihoods of thousands of vulnerable families in Chiredzi, ”said Makoni.
The Lowveld is popularly known for producing small grains such as sorghum and millet and the area receives rainfall below 650mm annually, and 2024 harvesting season has led the region to get low yields with the drought being the catalysts of hunger.

By Virginia Njovo

For the third time, Lake Mutirikwi mini hydropower station, initially slated for completion in September, missed yet another deadline, with officials now reporting a 98percent completion and giving end of October as the new deadline.
A pattern of delays continue to plague the power station, with the project missing its third deadline, initially set for end-of-July completion, then August, and it’s not clear if they will manage to meet the October deadline.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa told TellZim News that the power plant was at 98 percent complete and final touches were being done for it to be commissioned, after construction started in March 2022.
“The 5 MW power plant is now at 98 percent completion, final touches are being done at the site so that it can be commissioned and start to benefit the nation and Masvingo Province at large,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Project coordinator Hubert Chifumbu concurred with Dr Pazvakavambwa and said they were expecting to finish the project by the end of October 2024 as there were some technical issues which are being rectified at the site.
“We are currently doing final touches, we are now doing dry commissioning, wet commissioning and after the process the station will now join the national grid and we expect to be done by the end of October 2024,” said Chifumbu.
In August 2024 Chifumbu indicated that the progress was delayed due to the downstream requirements which were supposed to be met and they expected to commission the plant in September.
The 5MW Lake Mutirikwi Hydro power station is expected to generate power to be fed in the national grid as a way to reduce the on-going power cuts.
Regardless of the fact that Masvingo Province has over 10 000 dams which translates to 60 percent of inland water bodies in the country, the province is among the affected areas by the on-going power cuts which are said to be caused by the decreasing of Kariba Dam Water levels.