By: Steve Chirombo

Dedza, November 28, Mana: Government has expressed satisfaction with how Tipindule Project implemented by Action Aid in Dedza District is impacting on the lives of the beneficiaries.

Gilbert Malota, Dedza District Council Methodology Extension Officer, made the sentiments on Thursday during a visit to some beneficiaries under Senior Chief Kachere in the district.

During the tour, it was observed that beneficiaries of the project, whose sole purpose was Village Savings and Loans (VSLs), have also gone into farming, buying livestock while others have built good houses.

“We actually came to appreciate the interventions Action Aid is doing. We have seen a lot from farming, livestock among many others. Looking at how members of the VSLs are benefitting, we are impressed as government. Others have built houses, bought livestock while others have managed to have orchards,” said Malota.

He said what Action Aid is doing is in-line with government’s vision of achieving the Malawi 2063 Agenda among others, food security and wealth creation.

According to Malota, there is good working relationship between the council and Action Aid and called for continued collaboration while calling on the beneficiaries to seriously use the chances in order to improve their livelihoods.

On her part, one of the beneficiaries, Estele Mtonda, said lives for most of the VSL members, have improved under Action Aid’s Tipindule project.

“The two years, Action Aid has been in our area, we can testify the good fruits the project has brought to the communities. Most of us through the VSLs have managed to establish small scale businesses which are helping our daily needs,” stated Mtonda.

Group Village Head Dzaipa in the area said the project has greatly improved lives of the people. He called on other fellow community members to take part in the interventions so that they too should benefit.

Action Aid, Project Officer for Dedza, Maria Jingini, said the project in Senior Chief Kachere’s area is in 14 group village heads working with VSL groups as well as revamping others that already existed but did not have the desired expertise.

“We equip them with expertise in savings and loans as recommended by government, financial management as well as how to establish and run businesses, nutrition and vision which will determine their future as they participate in our programs,” she said.

Jingini further hailed government through Dedza district council for the joint efforts in the implementation of the project.

“VSLs aside, we also encourage the communities to conserve and do businesses that do not harm the environment. I can assure you that these interventions are also positively impacting on communities as they are able to establish tree nurseries which are being planted in homes while others turned into community forests. All this to ensure that environment is restored,” she said.

The project is being implemented with funds from Financial Access for Rural Markets Smallholders and Enterprises (FARMSE).