Mzimba DC hails Social Cash transfer Programme beneficiaries

Mzimba district commissioner Rodney Simwaka says Social Cash Transfer Programmes have improved livelihoods for many households in the district.

But he bemoaned a lack of saving culture through village savings and loan associations.

He made the call this week at Kabuwa in Traditional Authority Khosolo where he visited some social cash transfer beneficiaries.

 While acknowledging progress in improving  livelihoods, Simwaka expressed concerns that some beneficiaries are careless with their incomes.

“Some of the beneficiaries in the area are subsistence farmers and invested in houses and livestock to earn money, but there is a need to encourage them to join village savings and loan groups so that they make more money,” he said.

One beneficiary, 57-year-old Nixon Mwazama, applauded the government for improving their lives through the initiative, popularly known as Mtukula Pakhomo.

Mwazama said he bought 26 local chickens, 10 ducks and six goats using earnings from the Social Cash Transfer Programme.

On her part, Mukalalata Malungo, 82, said since joining the programme in 2015 she bought pigs whose number is now at four.

The Social Cash Transfer Programme is run by the Malawi Government and targets ultra-poor and labour-constrained households by granting them support in form of cash.

Mzimba District has 14 500 social cash transfer beneficiaries determined by household possessions, family size and monthly earnings.