Blantyre District Council has commended households that have graduated from the Social Cash Transfer Programme for attaining economic independence and contributing to national development.
The council’s chief social welfare officer Kumbukeni Kauwa said this on Monday after visiting beneficiary households, including those that have graduated from the programme in traditional authorities (T/As) Somba and Chigaru.
| Tarcizio Mondwe
He expressed satisfaction with the programme’s long-term impact, noting that many households have transitioned from extreme poverty to active participation in the economy.
“Graduated households are now investing in small-scale businesses. Some are doing farming while others are into poultry farming. Yet, some are saving their money with village savings and loans groups,” said Kauwa.
He advised households under the programme to invest the monthly cash transfers in sustainable income-generating activities rather than focusing only on immediate consumption.
“The programme currently supports 11 713 households in Blantyre, representing 44 535 individual beneficiaries across all eight traditional authorities in the district. The beneficiaries receive monthly transfers ranging from K10 000 to about K25 000, depending on the size of the household,” said Kauwa.
One of the beneficiaries, Joyce Mulipa from T/A Chigaru, who graduated from the programme in 2025, said she has achieved financial independence after investing in assets.
“I knew that time would come for me to graduate from the programme. I prioritised long-term investments such as livestock, crop production and small-scale businesses. I am now economically independent,” she said.
The programme is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project that seeks to empower ultra-poor Malawians economically.
District councils implement the programme through the National Local Government Finance Committee
