Public works bail out cyclone survivors

Cyclone Freddy survivors from Traditional Authority Malemia in Nsanje District are now able to put food on the table, courtesy of wages from Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme.

Under the programme, participants work for 12 days a month and normally receive K14 400. However, due to hunger crisis in the district, government has increased the monthly wages for October, November and December to K50 000 to enable the participants to afford a bag of maize which is going at K45 000 per 50 kilogramme bag.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Dorica Kennedy, a participant from Mkwanda Village, said she received K150 000 meant for food during the lean period.

The mother of two said she lost almost everything to the disaster.

“I struggled to find food for my family and sometimes we could go to bed on empty tummies. This affected preparations in my field in readiness for the new planting season,” she said.

Kennedy said she will buy two bags of maize and spend the remainder on relish and other basic necessities.

Another participant, Martin Sineki, from Fello Village, said he will buy two bags of maize and goats to venture into livestock farming.

Nsanje District Council land resources conservation officer Jasmine Chamdimba said there are 14 667 participants in the district’s 16 catchment areas.

“The participants receive K150 000 for three months. However, they will receive a bag of maize for January and February in 2024,” he said.

The participants are involved in activities meant to reclaim degraded landscapes such as constructing check dams, soak pits, marker ridges and swales.

Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme is under the Social Support for Resilience Livelihood Project with support from the multi-donor trust fund.