Zimbabwe in the spotlight

Driving from the airport into the city of Bulawayo, it seems not unlike any other big city in the world. Wide tree-lined avenues bordered by imposing Victorian architecture; the Post Office a grand red-stone building, the Greek-style City Hall complete with pillars, a former railway station, bank, and commercial buildings. It is busy but not frenetic; a bit shabby and run-down, but no evidence of desperate need, just a whiff of the prosperous place it was a hundred years ago.

It is only when you travel beyond the city that you start to see the gulf between it and rural communities and why there are regions in Zimbabwe in need of Mary’s Meals. The road out of the city is initially well paved with pylons running parallel, but the further out of the city you go, the more the road quality deteriorates, and it seems the further back in time you travel. The pylons diminish to telephone poles carrying power lines and then disappear completely, while the road becomes a rough dirt track with frequent potholes.

Traditional communities

At this point the landscape changes and small traditional communities border the road. Family groups of home-built round huts with separate huts for cooking characterized by their walls stopping short of the eaves: format and layout that has not changed in thousands of years. Each compound is hemmed in by wooden stakes, large enough to keep precious cattle in and fearsome enough to keep predators out. Many have raised platforms with rustic chicken houses and similar platforms to store dried maize – most of which are almost empty.

It is a further two hours along the bumpy track to Nkayi, a small community in Matabeleland North, four hours north of Bulawayo and seemingly in a different century. The town has a 1950s feel to it – a small unbranded filling station, a well-signposted Magistrate’s court, the District Commissioner’s office (government representative), a bunch 1950’s style bungalows with tin rooves and some small locally-run shops and stalls.

Challenging landscape

Beyond Nkayi, the communities are even more scattered and very remote. The landscape is dry, rocky and barren with few hills and occasionally segmented by dry riverbeds. It is clear agriculture here is very difficult. Amazwimabili Primary School – an hour’s drive further on from Nkayi – is in an area that typifies the challenges faced in these rural communities. It has received erratic rain in the last five years, which has caused many households to struggle finding work and food. Children have to drop out of school to help with cattle herding. For boys this can be from as young as nine years old. Erratic rainfall also causes challenges with flash flooding, then children don’t attend school because they can’t cross the swollen rivers.

School feeding arrived in January

Deputy head teacher Mrs Khumalo Fanta says: “Since school feeding started in January [2025], we have seen a number of children returning to school and many attending more regularly. Teachers are reporting that children are attentive in class, are listening well, and participating better than before. This means teachers have more time with the learners. We are seeing that the children are happier and are keen to come every day. The pass rate is bound to increase because of this.”

Volunteer cook Khethiwe Mlotshwa explains that the situation in this area has been difficult because of the drought. Her grandchildren were going hungry and there is hardship too for the adults. She says: “We try to grow food but it’s very hard work when you are already hungry and there is no water. We don’t try and grow starch, just a few vegetables.

“I volunteer to make sure my grandchildren get regular food. Last year the children were going hungry, now we don’t have to worry so much about finding food for them as we know they get fed at school.”

Strong community support

Despite families having very few assets, the community came together to build the necessary infrastructure for school feeding to commence. School Development Committee Chairperson Saul Sibanda took the lead on this. As Village Headman, he called the community together and agreed that each household would contribute a number of bricks. People were also recruited to build what was required, and villagers paid a small amount each to buy the concrete. Between them they built the storage hut, secure food storage unit, outside kitchen, and seating areas for the children in the shade of nearby trees.

Saul says: “We really welcome the program and know that our children are no longer hungry. The food should attract children back to school and the program has inspired parents to get involved. For the community we were happy to work hard for this as we know the pass rate will improve. The children are more alert, and their minds have been opened.”

It’s clear that morale has improved among the whole school community: teachers, learners, parents, volunteers and community leaders. There is positivity in the air, blended with woodsmoke from the school kitchen fires, as the cooks begin to serve porridge to a line of happy, smiling children.

Grade 6 learner Abel exclaims: “I love the porridge very much. Before the porridge came, I would be tired and hungry and often sleep on the way home. But not anymore. Even if there is no food at home, I don’t worry because I have been fed. I am happy that school feeding has come to my school.”