Nkhata Bay community finds relief in savings
National Local Government Finance Committee says it is committed to building economic resilience among the poor from climate change shocks.
The committee’s Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP) coordinator Paul Chipeta said this on Tuesday in Nkhata Bay during a World Bank technical team led visit to Vilemba Comsip Savings and Loans Group which benefits from economic packages in the livelihood programme.
He said: “People have become responsible to improve their socio-economic statuses as they are engaged in income-generating activities.
“It is pleasing to note that this group saved money and bought a maize mill for business.”
Chipeta said the households were poor and benefitted from the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme to conserve the environment and were introduced to Comsip Cooperative Union Limited that nurtured their money-saving culture and entrepreneurship abilities.
Nkhata Bay district community development officer Jacob Moloko said the project complements their efforts to empower communities economically.
He said: “Apart from making money, people also engage in afforestation activities to protect the environment.
“Beneficiaries were also equipped with essential skills to run profitable businesses and received K330 000 as the first chunk of seed capital.”
Vilemba Comsip Savings and Loan Group member George Kalua said they saved K2.7 million and bought the maize mill to provide milling services to people.
“We sold maize at K1.7 million and this money is also helping members to access loans,” he said.
The SSRLP is being implemented in the country’s 28 district councils, targeting beneficiaries of government safety nets such as social cash transfer and Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme with financial support from the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
