Story by Gay Matambo
GOVERNMENT has achieved full coverage of key social protection programmes, reaching all targeted beneficiaries under its food assistance and disability education support initiatives.
The milestone marks significant progress in the Second Republic’s drive to build an inclusive social protection system that leaves no one behind.
This emerged during a first-quarter strategic review meeting convened by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in Mutare this week.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable Mercy Dinha, said Government had met its core social safety net targets through expanded interventions in food security and education.
“Our social safety nets have been intentionally widened to ensure no citizen is left to face hunger alone,” she said.
“Under the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy, we have successfully reached 100 percent of targeted beneficiaries nationwide, ensuring food-insecure households, including the elderly, the chronically ill and child-headed families, receive consistent grain allocations.”
She added that Government had also achieved full coverage for learners with disabilities in special schools under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
“We have strengthened our commitment to inclusive education by covering 100 percent of school and boarding fees for learners with disabilities in special schools through BEAM,” she said.
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, said the review process is essential for measuring the impact of Government programmes and identifying areas for improvement.
“This is more than a routine assessment. It is a critical performance audit that ensures development targets under NDS2 are being met with precision and that vulnerable communities are seeing tangible improvements in their lives,” he said.
Beyond programme performance, the meeting also provided an opportunity to address the welfare of public sector workers, highlighting Government’s broader commitment to social and economic well-being.
The achievement reinforces the Second Republic’s focus on inclusive development, social equity and targeted support for the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
