WINDHOEK- The Minister of Education, Dr David Namwandi, had no kind words for “irresponsible” education officials in Oshikoto who allegedly allowed a large consignment of food supplied by government for the school feeding scheme in Oshikoto go rotten while stored in warehouses and storerooms.
Last week New Era published a story regarding 740 bags of maize meal each weighing 12.5 kg at the Oshikoto regional directorate, and others at a warehouse at King Kauluma, which were destroyed after being deemed unfit for human consumption.
The remainder of the bags currently stored at a warehouse at King Kauluma will also be burnt because they have expired.
“This food does not fall from heaven like manna. We buy the food, there is more than 300 000 school-going children to benefit from it so they do not miss out on education because of hunger, but I don’t think all these kids benefit. We will investigate and if we find there is negligence there will be action taken against the culprits,” he warned yesterday.
The Ministry of Education buys and distributes more than 6 000 tonnes of food per year, costing over N$70 million to feed hundreds of thousands of learners whose parents and guardians cannot afford to put a meal on the table.
An irate Namwandi said food is hard to come by and government is working around the clock to ensure school children get food to eat.
“It is disheartening to learn that food is getting rotten in warehouses while some regions need food. If you know you have enough, then give the food to other regions in need,” he said.
The education minister promised to get to the bottom of the whole scandal, saying culprits will be dealt with if any negligence is found on their side.
He said he would instruct the education permanent secretary, Alfred Ilukena, and his team to go and investigate the matter with urgency.
The government launched the school feeding programme in response to the growing needs of learners affected by a series of droughts in the early 90s.
Namwandi revealed that to date the programme provides a nutritious mid-morning meal to over 320 000 primary school learners in rural and peripheral urban areas.
The yearly food procurements benefit over 1 300 primary schools countrywide.
Moreover, 75 percent of the procured food is locally sourced.
New Era understands the bags were destroyed by fire after health inspectors declared the maize spoilt and unfit for human consumption. The Acting Director of Education in Oshikoto Region, Elizabeth Mwaala, confirmed some 740 bags were spoilt and deemed unfit for humans.