School feeding programme providing market for local farmers – President Hichilema

President Hakainde Hichilema says the school feeding programme is providing a market for the farm produce from local farmers.

The school feeding programme is being implemented in all the 116 districts of Zambia and slightly over four million learners are benefiting from it.

President Hichilema was this afternoon at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School for the official ceremony of the implementation of the school feeding programme.

“We need to buy more food from the local areas.

“We have a programme to produce more food in Zambia. This school feeding is now providing a market for our farmers,” President Hichilema said.

He said education is the most fundamental sector, no wonder the New Dawn administration continues to give it remarkable support.

“That’s why this government has a clear vision that we shall invest in the education sector. Education is the best equaliser, investment and inheritance. The education sector is of economic importance,” the President said.

He added that Government wants to deliver free education in the real sense.

“Free education is not just school fees removed but also examination fees. What’s the point of teaching a child for a full year who can’t sit for exams because they can’t pay their exam fees?” the President said.

President Hichilema further said learners’ good class performance and improved attendance can be credited to the school feeding programme.

“For us, education is a priority. Hence, we have rolled out the school feeding programme to all the 116 districts, regardless of the scarce resources. Four million learners are now being fed across the country,” said President Hichilema.