06 Aug 2019

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso says her ministry has a prescribed balanced meal menu for all the 755 primary schools in the country.

Ms Tshireletso told Parliament  that the menu was designed to provide a balanced diet to all school going children by providing a variety of foods for breakfast and mid-day meals.

She stated that the menu provided soft porridge, eggs, milk, tea, bread with peanut butter or jam for breakfast and porridge, stewed steak, UHT milk, beans, samp, letlhafula, fruits and vegetables for the mid-day meal.

Regarding payments made to service providers engaged in supplying food commodities, Ms Tshireletso stated that tendering processes were done on time and according to service standards.

She, however, pointed out that there were instances where payments were delayed due to technical challenges such as creation of supplier in the (GABS) system, delay in finalising the deed of cession between suppliers and financial institutions and GABS systems downtime.

“Suffice to say such delays are in the minority,” she said

Francistown East MP, Mr Buti Billy had asked the minister to upgrade Parliament on the primary schools  feeding programme. He also wanted to know if a balanced diet was provided to pupils and whether service providers were paid on time. ENDS