Rise in zero-rated food prices affecting school feeding: Association

The National School Nutrition Programme Service Providers’ Association has expressed concern on the rising prices of zero-rated food items.

It says the situation has complicated its ability to supply food to schools. The association says despite being exempt from taxation the rising prices are making it difficult to keep up with the current budget from government.

The association’s chairperson Lindani Matiwane has called for urgent government intervention.

“The government just give us the allocation price and they give us the commodities how many we have to source out. And we go out to all of those respectably or known outlets, we went and buy and try to negotiate prices to whoever that will give us good prices. What is happening as it is now each and every time whenever schools have closed, whenever we come back there’s an increase.”