SCORES of parents in Usevya Secondary School in Mulele District, Katavi Region have refused to contribute food for their children, claiming that it is the responsibility of the Kavuu MP, Dr Pudesiana Kikwembe who pledged to do so during his election campaigns last year.
They refused supply food before the school’s board meeting which
was held to provide explanation on the government’s circular on what is
entailed in the free education policy.
The circular said that the government will pay fees for all
secondary school students from primary to secondary level and that it
will also provide food for boarding school students.
The circular was read by the school headmaster, Tilia Denis who
thereafter told parents that they were supposed to contribute food for
their children. This provoked havoc resulting in the meeting ending
unceremoniously.
One of the meeting participant, Wakara Bulimba said he was not
ready to contribute food because Kavuu MP Dr Pudesiana Kikwembe pledged
during the last year’s General Election campaigns that “if elected she
would contribute food for day scholars for her entire five-year term. So
we elected her and therefore it is her responsibility to fulfill her
pledges.”
The parent said MP Kikwembe offered a number of pledges, and one of
them is for her to contribute food for our children, this problem used
to disturb us very much…“and this is what made us to give her enough
votes to win; that is why we want her (MP) to act for the ball is in her
court.”
“We don’t want excuses she must act on her pledges as President
John Magufuli did, he pledged free education and he has started
fulfilling his pledges.”
Another parent, Imma Godfrey said some parents have agreed to
contribute, though many are still waiting for the MP to walk her
pledges.
“We listened careful to the MP’s pledges during the election
campaigns and we gave her the votes and that is why we’re still waiting
for her to start fulfilling her pledges,” Godfrey said.
For his part, the school headmaster, Tilia Denis said the parents
have understood the government’s circular on free education, but they
refused to contribute food because it’s the MP’s task.
He said the move has caused much confusion at his school when it
comes to feeding the children as Dr Kikwembe hasn’t done anything.
For her part, Kavuu MP Dr Kikwembe who is in Dodoma for
parliamentary committee sessions admitted to have made the pledges
during the election campaigns.
Even though, she said parents were supposed to give her time and
for this season parents should contribute as she was working on
strategies on how to implement her pledges.
“I appeal to parents to be patient as I have just entered the
House; let them give me time. As for the time being they should start
contributing food for their children.”
Download Video and Put Comment
Toa Maoni Hapa Chini
