Matebeleland Pulse Reporter
Mbizo legislator Corban Madzivanyika has raised concerns over delayed payments under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), claiming that schools are owed more than US$300 million.
Madzivanyika made the remarks during debate on the State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly on 5 November 2026, questioning the Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable learners through the programme.
BEAM is a government social protection programme intended to assist disadvantaged children with school fees and levies.
The legislator argued that although the programme helps learners access education, delayed payments are placing financial pressure on schools.
“BEAM is not being paid,” Madzivanyika told Parliament.
He further claimed that “most schools are owed over USD300 million worth of BEAM arrears.”
According to the MP, schools are continuing to educate learners whose fees are supposed to be covered through the programme, effectively transferring the financial burden to other parents and institutions.
He questioned why the Government was struggling to settle the outstanding payments despite the country’s reported export earnings.
“Are we so bad that we fail to get 300 million to pay for BEAM arrears?” he asked.
The claims raise questions about the financial sustainability of the programme and the impact of delayed payments on schools, particularly those serving vulnerable communities.
If the figure is confirmed, outstanding payments of this scale could have serious implications for schools that depend on government assistance to meet operational costs.
However, the US$300 million figure was presented by Madzivanyika during parliamentary debate and has not been independently established as the Government’s verified BEAM debt.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Finance should clarify the actual outstanding amount, the period covered by the arrears and the number of schools affected.
Parents and school authorities also need clarity on whether the Government has a payment plan to settle outstanding obligations.
