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Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo says the government has a ZWL$200 billion outstanding bill for the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) programme.
BEAM, a social welfare programme whereby the government pays tuition fees for disadvantaged and orphaned children, has over the years been seriously affected by underfunding.
In a presentation at the pre-budget seminar held at the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden last week, Moyo said: “Mismatch between budget disbursement and cash release, for example, under the BEAM programme, from the revised budget of ZWL$86,9 billion, cash availed to date is only ZWL$58,4 billion, leaving a balance of $28,6 billion. Even the revised balance is not adequate to meet the requirements for 2023, as we are currently paying arrears for 2022. The arrears currently stand at ZWL$278 billion,” said Moyo.
In May this year, teachers’ unions questioned the continued existence of BEAM, describing it as a breeding ground for corruption.
This year, the government assisted 1 515 047 learners with educational assistance under BEAM. Of these, 730 321 were boys and 784 726 were girls. At least 59,701 children were assisted with care and protection services.
The government also reached out to 3 796 961 people with food assistance, where 4 400 metric tonnes of grain were distributed to refugees and asylum seekers at Tongogara Refugee Camp.
Minister Moyo bemoaned the brain drain in the country.
“The ministry has suffered brain drain, something that is compromising service delivery”.
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