Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries in Nkhata Bay District have underscored the importance of the safety net initiative in empowering the ultra-poor to graduate from abject poverty.
One of the beneficiaries, Lucy Phiri from sub-Traditional Authority (ST/A) Mndolo, said on Saturday during a pay parade that the initiative is transforming the lives of vulnerable households by improving food security, supporting children’s education and helping families establish sustainable sources of income.
| Thomas Nyirongo
She said the programme has become a lifeline, that has enabled her to meet basic household needs while investing in small businesses that generate additional income.
“I spend the money on school necessities for my children and food for the family. I also started a mandasi [fritters] business using part of the money and the profits help me meet other household needs,” said Phiri.
She encouraged fellow beneficiaries to use the money responsibly by investing in income-generating activities
that can improve their livelihoods even after graduating from the programme.
Chilera Wana Cluster chairperson Annie Ngwira from T/A Mkumbira in the district said the programme is making a difference among beneficiaries.
“We encourage beneficiaries to invest part of the money to have something to depend on after the programme phases out,” she said.
Nkhata Bay district principal social welfare officer Wisdom Mwafulirwa said the district is currently disbursing April and May transfers manually as preparations are underway to transition to electronic payment system.
He said the district has 6 470 beneficiary households, adding that 903 beneficiaries from T/As Mkumbira, Mankhambira, Mndola and part of Timbiri have received their payments.
Mwafulirwa said the programme is strengthening the resilience of vulnerable families by enabling them to afford three meals a day, keep children in school and invest in small businesses that improve household incomes.
The programme is one of the government’s flagship social protection interventions to reduce extreme poverty in the country.
