Government has expressed gratitude to cooperating partners for their continued support towards government policies and programmes.
Shangombo District Commissioner Mubita Siyamana made the remarks when he officially flagged off the distribution of irrigation kits for Shangombo schools funded by Keepers Zambia.
Mr Siyamana said the donation will enable the government to sustain the school feeding programme by equipping schools with irrigation infrastructure.
He urged beneficiaries to utilize the equipment for its intended purpose.
“This project has come to supplement the school feeding programme in our schools. My caution to the benefiting schools is that this project should not become a white elephant,” Mr. Siyamana cautioned.
Meanwhile, Keepers Zambia representative Robum Phiri said the organisation is in the district to support the school feeding programme.
Mr Phiri added that the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) project was initiated in response to the drought the country experienced recently.
Mr Phiri revealed that 9 schools will benefit from the irrigation system, which comprises 10,000-litre water tanks and drip irrigation kits.
“We are in nine schools here in Shangombo supporting the school feeding programme that was introduced. We are delivering irrigation equipment to the schools, which includes the tanks and pipes,” Mr. Phiri revealed.
And representing Shangombo Primary School, teacher Mwiya Mwiya expressed gratitude to the funders for considering the school as one of the beneficiaries.
Mr Mwiya said the irrigation kits will enable the school to sustain and supplement the school feeding programme through vegetable production.
He added that previously, pupils used containers to irrigate the garden, which made it difficult to maximize production.
“We really appreciate being one of the beneficiaries of this programme. Our children used to complain that the watering part was very hectic, as they were using containers,” Mr Mwiya said.
The programme is being implemented by Keepers Zambia in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) under the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).
