Public works participants commend e-payment

Participants in the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme in Kasungu District have commended government for migrating from manual to electronic payment.

Speaking on Monday during a community sensitisation on the change in payment system at Chankhanga Catchment Area in Traditional Authority Mwase, one of the participants, Ibrahim Phiri, said the manual payment system was associated with logistical challenges which disadvantaged them.

He said: “We welcome the new payment system because we believe it will reduce logistical challenges faced in the project’s first cycle such as delayed payment and some beneficiaries missing on the pay-roll.

“We also used to spend the whole day in the queue just to get our wages.”

Kasungu District Council desk officer Ignatius Lipato said it was pleasing that communities have welcomed the new payment system pointing out that the harmonised electronic payment service for social protection initiatives reduces costs and risks associated with manual transfers.

He said: “We are excited that the participants under this programme have welcomed the shift in payment system because a lot of resources will be saved as everything will be done digitally. This will also reduce work related delays, costs and risks.

“Secondly, the logistical challenges associated with manual payments were somehow taking away the trust the people had in the authorities.”

Kasungu has 19 530 participants under the programme who are involved in activities that include reforestation, contour marker ridging, vetiver planting and storm water drain construction.

These interventions seek to address climate change shocks.

Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme is funded by the World Bank and implemented in the country’s 28 districts.