M’Mbelwa District Council commends K307m project

M’Mbelwa District Council director of planning and development Walter Chikuni has commended Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (Sprodeta) for supporting communities in Mzimba with money to implement livelihood projects.

Under the organisation’s Green Facilitated Collective Action Process project, community members will apply for funding to implement projects such as irrigation farming, bee-keeping and livestock farming which will empower them economically.

Speaking on Wednesday when Sprodeta introduced the project to Mzimba District Executive Committee, Chikuni said the project will transform people’s lives.

“We have no doubt that the project will empower women, youths and other vulnerable communities to become economically stable,” he said.

M’Mbelwa District Council labour officer Edward Shafi advised Sprodeta to highlight terms and conditions for the participants as the project might encounter some challenges.

Sprodeta projects coordinator Atusaye Mbotwa said the project will enhance community participation and livelihoods and improve communities’ resilience to climate change shocks.

“Communities will have the liberty to choose the type of project they want to implement using the funding Sprodeta will allocate and the selection of such project will be evaluated to see if it is in line with our goals,” he said.

Sprodeta executive director Allen Kumwenda urged the council to advise on procurement and recommend reliable suppliers of various project materials to ensure successful implementation.

“The project’s success depends on the effort that various sectors at the council will put up,” he said.

Emmanuel Botha, a youth at Mzimba Boma, welcomed the project, saying it will reduce unemployment among young people.

The project targets 1 278 households in three traditional authorities in the district