FEED THE POOR & VULNERABLE CHILD AT SCHOOL BREAK

MS Madasa, a Zambian based in South Afric runs a non governmental organisation called Zonkindawo that is focused on the early childhood welfare of Southern African children.

Other than their kids’ community and school play facilities programme, I particularly got attracted to the “feed the pupil at school break time” project.

I can relate to myself in the early 80s at Matero Primary School when it was time for break. I hated it because it was time to watch “rich” people’s children especially those from ANC, SWAPO and ZANU-PF exiled parents that had some form of stipend from KK and their own financiers bank in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

These classmates would open their lunch boxes full of rice and mincemeat or cheese plus a bottle of some of us unreachable imported Mazoe drink. Once a while they would even come with an apple or banana as dessert for the break meal.

Other locals with money from their parents would buy fritters (vitumbuwa) and ice block (plastic packed diluted concentrated jolly juice) or sugar mbalala sweets (groundnuts fried with dissolved heated sugar).

As my father, our bread winner had died about the same period, at break l would have no lunch box and no money to buy any food items.

So I would watch and until possibly given something by the “rich” kids. Some days they would actually laugh at me. I found comfort in avoiding the eating zone and going to play quick impromptu improvised plastic football with other equals.

I am therefore so delighted with Zonkindawo project that look to provide instant food (precooked soya porridge or nshima that is ready to eat with a bit of warm water) at school break time for pupils like I was whose parents cannot afford lunch boxes or money for break time food.

Ms Madasa is in the country and donated some food consignment to Sivermate Christian School in Barlastone area of Matero constituency.

I can imagine the joy of pupils after having a meal at their break time. Chances are they even concentrated when back in class as the teacher was teaching.

I have since introduced Ms Madasa to a number of MPs that showed interest as children’s welfare is one that should cut across party lines.

We should say no to hunger for children in all schools in all districts regardless of their parent’s party affiliations.

Zikomo Zonkidawo (+260955992725) its CEO Ms Madasa (+27711406374) for feeding at their break time some of our Matero pupils today.

We call on companies in the industrial area of Matero to partner with Ms Madasa so her products can reach out to more of our poor and vulnerable pupils for their free meals at break time.

Some of these poor kids while going hungry at school break time, their parents would be busy at various industrial companies packaging their products like fruit drinks, bread, maheu etc.

Most companies tend to be insensitive to the welfare of their workers’ children. I do hereby humbly request for their Ubuntu conscience so they tap into their profits and feed our poor pupils at their break time.