Joseph Isangura
Parents at Magegele Primary School, situated in Kivavi Ward, Makambako Town Council of Njombe Region, Tanzania, are demanding legal action against teachers accused of stealing vital school food supplies and cash contributions.
The theft, they say, has shattered trust and risks disrupting school feeding services critical to their children’s education.
The revelations came during a public meeting on July 14, 2025, where the school’s income and expenditure report was formally presented at the ward office. According to the report, a total of 60 bags of maize (maize), 24 bags of beans (common bean), five litres of cooking oil, and TSh 860,000 in cash were unaccounted for—allegedly stolen and sold by teachers to a local trader.
Parents said the scheme came to light when the trader, under pressure, confessed to purchasing the food from the teachers and returned the stolen goods. However, of the TSh 860,000 reportedly taken, only TSh 200,000 has been recovered so far.
“This is not just food—it’s the future of our children,” said Hamshdina Ndendya, chairperson of the school’s food committee. “We parents worked hard to provide these meals through community contributions. We can no longer support a system that allows such betrayal to go unpunished.”
The food had been donated under a local school feeding programme, an initiative that supports nutrition and attendance across schools in Tanzania. Studies show that such programs not only boost student performance but are often the primary source of daily nutrition for children from low-income families.
Parents have now vowed to suspend food contributions until legal action is taken against the implicated individuals.
Appia Mayemba, the Acting Director of Makambako Town Council, acknowledged during the meeting that the issue had not been formally reported to her office before.
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“We take these allegations seriously and will act swiftly,” she told attendees. “That said, I encourage parents to continue supporting the feeding programme to ensure pupils do not suffer further.”
However, parents were not convinced by the assurances. Several said that unless prosecutions take place, they fear the issue will be swept under the rug, as has happened in similar cases across the country.
This incident highlights growing concerns about transparency, corruption, and mismanagement in Tanzania’s public schools. Despite national policies that emphasize free education and community involvement, theft and misuse of school resources remain a recurring challenge, particularly in rural areas.
The Tanzania Institute of Education and civil society organizations such as HakiElimu have repeatedly called for stronger oversight and accountability in school governance.
Makambako, a fast-growing town in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands, relies heavily on agriculture. Crops like maize and beans are staple foods in the region, and their theft is particularly galling to the farming parents who supplied them in good faith.
Local law enforcement has yet to open a formal investigation, though community leaders and civil society groups are now expected to apply pressure on the council to take decisive legal steps.
