The Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a flagship government programme meant to support vulnerable pupils, is being manipulated by government officials to benefit the well-connected at the expense of the poor, sparking calls for accountability and reform.
The revelations emerged in Parliament during debate on the Finance Bill tied to the proposed 2026 National Budget, where Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Cabinet had resolved to institute a comprehensive audit to expose those abusing the scheme.
“Now, turning to BEAM arrears and so forth, colleagues, in Bulawayo, when we debated this issue, I explained that the Government has taken a position through Cabinet that an audit should be undertaken,” Ncube said.
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“What we are finding is that the system for identification of the vulnerable is being manipulated by those with influence and leverage in various areas.
“This needs to be audited so that we get to know who is really vulnerable.”
Ncube said preliminary information suggests that genuinely needy pupils are being crowded out by undeserving beneficiaries, prompting government to halt further action until the audit is complete.
“It looks like those who are in need are not benefiting.
“That is the information we have. Therefore, we do not want to rush in without doing this audit work,” he said.
On his part, Committee chairperson and Nyanga South MP Supa Mandiwanzira said no BEAM disbursements had reached schools in the past three years.
“I am standing to support the proposal that the line item about the Basic Education Assistance Module be redirected to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,” Mandiwanzira said.
“Not only does it reduce transaction costs, but in the last three years, there have not been any disbursements to the schools on these BEAM allocations.”
Zaka South MP Clemence Chiduwa welcomed the increased BEAM allocation for 2026 but warned that funding without timely releases was meaningless.
The allocation is set to rise from ZWG2.4 billion to ZWG5.58 billion, an increase of more than 100%.
“What is critical is not just the allocation but the releases,” Chiduwa said.
“Most schools are now going down because the majority of our students are under BEAM.
“I would want to urge the Hon. Minister to synchronise allocation and releases.”
