By Mary Kachepa
Government has announced that milk will be added to the school feeding programme menu this year to improve the nutritional value of meals for learners.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Education Services, Kelvin Mambwe, said the government will partner with the private sector to supply milk to Early Childhood Centres. He explained that the milk component has been included in this year’s national budget allocation.
Dr. Mambwe made the remarks during the side-event on Public-Private Partnerships and Innovative Financing Mechanisms to enhance investment in school meals at the 11th Africa Day of School Feeding in Botswana.
He noted that Zambia’s school feeding programme has significantly boosted enrolment, attendance, and learning outcomes, encouraging the government to expand the initiative toward universal coverage so that no learner is left behind.
Dr. Mambwe added that government is strengthening data systems to track food production capacities and programme performance, emphasizing that reliable information supports better planning, monitoring, and documentation of progress by government and partners.
He further stated that the Ministry of Education is collaborating with key institutions, including the Office of the Vice President, to extend programmes to vulnerable communities.
Dr. Mambwe also pointed out that sustainable financing remains a major pillar, with plans underway to broaden engagement with innovative funding partners, including private sector institutions.
This was contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News by Julia Malunga, First Secretary Press at the Zambia High Commission in Gaborone, Botswana.
