Comsip distributes funds to beneficiaries

Twenty-two women from Senior Chief Kadewere in Chiradzulu District have received K200 000 grant each from Comsip Cooperative Union Limited to invest in businesses.

The 22 are among the 3 000 households targeted in the graduation pilot Livelihood Support Programme package, a sub-component of the Malawi Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the function, Comsip development communication officer Mercy Chaluma said the beneficiaries will receive an additional K100 000 if they utilise the funds for the intended purpose.

She said: “This project is being implemented in 14 districts. We choose beneficiaries who have interest to run businesses. We trained them in business management and we expect them to use the skills to succeed.”

Senior chief Kadewere hailed government for the support, saying it will help communities graduate from abject poverty.

“I warn beneficiaries against misusing the funds. This is government’s money and whatever they do they will be held accountable,” he said.

The project, funded by the World Bank to the tune of $33 million (about K33 billion), will be run in three phases, targeting 10 400 households in the country.

The beneficiaries are already in small-scale businesses such as livestock production, poultry and running shops.