BEAM Funding Crisis : Social Welfare Minister Blames Mthuli Ncube as BEAM Beneficiaries Suffer

BEAM Funding Crisis: Social Welfare Minister Blames Mthuli Ncube's Ministry as BEAM Beneficiaries Suffer

By Delicious Mathuthu

Harare, Zimbabwe - The Zimbabwean government is facing heavy criticism over the delayed disbursement of funds to the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a critical social welfare program aimed at supporting vulnerable learners.

The issue came to a head during a recent parliamentary debate, where the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Edgar Moyo, publicly attributed the delays to the late release of funds by the Ministry of Finance, led by Professor Mthuli Ncube.

"The limiting factor really was the budget release to cover those cash transfers, not discrimination," Minister Moyo said.

The debate, initiated by Mkoba South Member of Parliament, Hon. John Kuka, highlighted the widespread nature of the problem.

Hon. Kuka pressed the Minister on the outstanding BEAM payments for schools, especially those in his constituency.

"…when [are] the following schools in Mkoba South Constituency scheduled to receive their allocated BEAM funding: Muwunga Primary School; St. Paul’s Primary School; Mkoba 3 Secondary School; Mambo Secondary School; Ascot High Secondary School and Matinunura Secondary School?" Hon. Kuka asked Minister Moyo during a question and answer session.

In response, Minister Moyo confirmed that while a ZiG$40 million payment had been disbursed to clear arrears for special schools from 2024, a significant backlog for mainstream schools remains.

He attributed this to the limited funding despite the BEAM Operational Manual stipulating termly payments.

"The BEAM Operational Manual 2016 states that schools should be paid at the end of each term. However, this termly disbursement of funds has been affected by delayed disbursements from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.

"This has led to the accrual of arrears from 2023 and 2024 for the secondary and primary schools you referenced, respectively.

"Our Ministry has engaged with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to release the necessary funds.

"This year, a total of ZiG40 million was released for the programme and this was used to clear arrears for the 2024 Terms 1 and 2 for all special schools, schools that exclusively cater for children with disabilities.

"These are Jairos Jiri, St. Jiles, Sibantubanye and M. Hugo School for the Blind," Minister Moyo said.

Hon. Kuka further asked the Minister for Government's rescue roadmap for schools that are on the brink of closure due to financial woes.

"Most schools in our constituencies are deteriorating while we wait for Treasury disbursements. What is the Government policy or what can be done by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to address some of the challenges that schools are raising to make sure that schools continue to function correctly?" he asked.

Minister Moyo said his Ministry is engaging with Treasury almost on a weekly basis and a committee which includes his Ministry, those from the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, and Treasury, has been set up.

He however said they are just promises being made as the release of funds is subject to availability, and in the process schools are suffering.

"They promise all the time, but there may be cash flow issues. We are hopeful that this matter will be resolved.

"This is really a concern to all of us. It has been raised in numerous fora, including Cabinet, to demonstrate the seriousness with which we regard this matter of BEAM.

"We acknowledge that schools are suffering as a result, but Treasury is committed, according to their statements.

"As soon as there is fiscal space, I am sure they will be paying as they have done," Minister Moyo said.

The debate also touched on the outstanding arrears from previous years, with Glenview North Legislator, Hon. Happymore Chidziva, asking the Minister to confirm if the arrears for 2022 would be cleared alongside the 2023 ones.

The Minister responded that the outstanding arrears being cleared are from 2023 as recorded by his office, not 2022, but said any discrepancies could be resolved between his office and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Raising a supplementary question, Hon. Chidziva also highlighted that despite a government policy barring schools from sending pupils home for non-payment of fees, many schools were now heavily reliant on BEAM and echoed Hon. Kuka's point that schools were struggling to keep operations running.

He urged the Ministry to explore alternative funding mechanisms to ease the funding burden.

The legislator also criticized bureaucratic delays, arguing that the current process, where schools channel documentation through multiple Ministries before receiving payments, was unnecessarily long.

He suggested direct transfers from Treasury to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for efficiency.

Minister Moyo however defended the existing arrangement, noting that BEAM falls under his Ministry, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, as part of broader social protection programmes that also extend to health and other welfare areas.

He stressed that schools should not penalize vulnerable children for delayed government payments.

“Students are not supposed to be sent home for non-payment, because once these students are enrolled under BEAM, it is the responsibility of the Government to make sure that BEAM payments are done.

"It is very unethical and cruel on the part of schools to harass them,” Hon. Moyo said.

He further urged schools to also engage non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that complement government efforts in supporting disadvantaged learners, citing CAMFED and Plan International among those assisting with school fees.

Rushinga Legislator, Hon. Tendai Nyabani, questioned whether BEAM could be restricted to orphans and children from incapacitated families, claiming that some schools were now entirely dependent on the programme despite government delays in disbursing funds.

“Most schools are now 100% on BEAM, but the Government has not paid BEAM funds to them. Is it not possible for BEAM to focus on the most disadvantaged children?” he alleged, and asked.

Minister Moyo clarified that BEAM was, as a matter of policy, intended to cater primarily for orphans and vulnerable children.

He added that cases of entire schools being placed under BEAM reflected allocation irregularities which needed to be addressed.

“It is unusual for 100% of people in a particular community to be deserving.

"This issue will be shared with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that the selection process is rationalised and only those deserving are enrolled,” Moyo said.

The Parliament Temporary Speaker of the day reminded the House that BEAM selection falls under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, working with School Development Committees (SDCs) and not under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

Raising another supplementary question, Phumula Member of Parliament, Hon. Sichelesile Mahlangu, pointed to the burden schools face at the beginning of the year when affiliation fees are due.

She argued that schools often divert funds from students who have paid fees to cover affiliation costs, which in turn affects BEAM beneficiaries.

She suggested that the government should assume responsibility for these affiliation fees to ease the financial strain on schools, but Moyo said it would be improper for schools to use funds collected from some pupils to cover costs meant for others.

A 2022 report on the progress of the Elimination of Child Labor in Zimbabwe revealed that about 1.5 million children are under the BEAM programme, covering their school fees, levies, and examination fees.