Chikwawa Council touts social cash transfer

Chikwawa district social welfare officer Dumisani Maona says the Social Cash Transfer Programme has the potential to transform people’s lives in the district.

The programme, which targets 10 percent of ultra-poor and labour-constrained households in the country, is expected to benefit 14 262 families in the district.  

In an interview on Saturday, Maona said the enrolment exercise, which started in November 2023, is expected to be completed this month.

He said: “Soon after completing the enrolment, we will start case management to make sure all eligible beneficiaries have been assisted accordingly before disbursement of cash.

“We also conduct sensitisation meetings to advise beneficiaries to use the money prudently as some can invest it livestock farming, building safe homes and funding their children’s education.”

In a separate interview, Bwabwali Ward councillor Gerald Bede commended the programme for helping poor households get basic necessities but pointed out that there was need for government to increase the number of the district’s beneficiaries.

“As you know, our district is mostly hit by floods and every year people lose their livestock, crops and houses. So, to achieve the strongest anti-poverty impact, there is need to increase the number of beneficiaries,” he said.

Bede said people in the district utilise money well because they are well sensitised.

“Therefore, if more people are enrolled in the programme, it will benefit many families,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chikwawa District Council chairperson Wyson Bush has called on authorities to update the unified beneficiary registry (UBR) as there have been changes since the UBR data was collected four years ago.

“We have experienced a number of disasters since the data was collected. This means some households, which were classified as economically well-off or comfortable, have now moved to ultra-poor category,” he said.