FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20TH MARCH,2026
CHINSALI, ZAMBIA – The Provincial Administration Office, is pleased to announce the significant impact and wide-reaching success of the Home-Grown School Meals (HGSM) Programme across the province. The initiative, which provides nutritious meals to learners, is currently being implemented in 495 schools throughout the province, covering learners from Early Childhood Education (ECE) to Grade 7, as well as primary schools offering Form 1 classes.
The program is actively running in six core districts, with ongoing sensitization efforts to expand understanding and participation in Chinsali and Isoka Districts.
Currently, a total of two hundred eight thousand six hundred seventy-four (208,674) learners are benefiting from the daily feeding programme across the province. The distribution of beneficiaries by district and gender is as follows:
1 KANCHIBIYA 15,641 boys and 17,930 Girls
2 LAVUSHIMANDA 7,796 Boys and 7,749 Girls
3 MAFINGA 17,426 Boys and 17,656 Girls
4 MPIKA 22,490 Boys and 22,952 Girls
5 NAKONDE 25,160 Boys and 25,768 Girls
6 SHIWANG’ANDU 14,255 Boys and 13,851 Girls
PROVINCIAL TOTAL 208,674
Since the expansion and strengthening of the HGSM programme, the Province has observed remarkable positive outcomes in participating schools. The key impacts recorded include:
· Enrolment Increase: Schools have reported a notable rise in enrolment numbers, as the promise of a daily meal serves as a strong incentive for parents to enrol their children, particularly in early grades.
· Improved Attendance: The programme has significantly reduced absenteeism. Learners are more motivated to attend school regularly, knowing they will receive a nutritious meal.
· Performance Improvement: With reduced hunger in the classroom, learners are showing better concentration and participation, leading to an improvement in academic performance across the board.
· Social Cohesion: The initiative has successfully promoted a culture of eating together, fostering a sense of community, equality, and shared values among learners regardless of their background, it has also enhanced economic support to local farmers.
Muchinga Provincial Administration Office remains committed to sustaining this programme and looks forward to the full integration of Chinsali and Isoka Districts into the feeding initiative to ensure that no child learns on an empty stomach.
Issued by:
(Original copy signed)
Ruth Mumba
Principal Public Relations Officer
MUCHINGA PROVINCE
Phone: 0975179114
Email: mumba.ruth@grz.gov.zm
