Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries in Dowa District have commended the safety net initiative for improving their livelihoods.
During a media tour on Saturday to appreciate the impact of the programme, beneficiaries showcased assets such as houses, livestock, bicycles while others ventured into farming and other businesses.
One of the beneficiaries, Mercy Goveya from Simankhwala Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mkukula, said she used to struggle to make ends meet.
| Kondwani Kandiado
“I used to spend a good part of my day in different maize mills begging maize flour,” she said.
Goveya said under the programme, she was able to cultivate different crops, rear pigs and has roofed her house with iron sheets.
Another beneficiary, Likisina Dakishoni from Mbeza Village in T/A Mkukula said she is rearing goats and pigs.
“I use manure from livestock in my maize garden to get bumper yields,” he said.
Dowa district principal social welfare officer Ndamiwe Msiska said she was impressed that the programme has transformed people’s livelihoods in the district.
“We have seen people who were not able to eat, but now can afford at least a meal a day. People who were not able to send their children to school are now able to send them to school,” she said.
She, however, said some beneficiaries are struggling to embrace technology.
“Some easily forget their pin codes, sometimes they lose their SIM cards,” said Msiska.
The programme is running with funds from the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
