People in traditional authorities (T/As) Kapondo and Dambe in Mchinji District have commended the pig pass-on initiative for its potential to transform their livelihoods.
The initiative targeted wives of village heads and vulnerable community members.
At group village head Chapakama in T/A Kapondo, 22 wives of village heads, who also form Chimwemwe Village Savings and Loans Group, received two pigs to raise as a group.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, the group’s chairperson Mary Yonasi said the pigs will empower them economically.
She said: “As wives of traditional leaders, we are not included in many schemes. People say that we do not need assistance because our husbands are traditional leaders. Yet, as women, we also face the same challenges as other women in the community are facing.
“That is why in 2021 we formed a savings and loans group to save money. However, we approached Anthony Masamba in July this year for help and he donated two pigs to the group as one way of empowering us economically.”
Yonasi said piggery is one of the lucrative businesses; hence, the need to take care of the animals.
The group’s member, Nalivesi Elias, thanked Masamba for the initiative, saying it was good in the face of climate change shocks such as prolonged dry spells and floods.
Another beneficiary Livines Lackson from Flaki Village, T/A Dambe, said the pigs will help her family generate income.
In a separate interview, Masamba said he donated 60 pigs to 840 women from village development committees in T/As Kaponda and Dambe.
He said he rolled out the initiative as a vehicle for economic empowerment among women and youths.
“This followed a survey I conducted whose results showed acute poverty, especially among women and youths,” said Masamba.
