By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, April 13, Mana: About 1,277 households in Dedza and Ntcheu districts can now breathe a sigh of relief following disbursement of K252,500 to each individual as startup capital while some will use it to boost their small-medium businesses under Tatukule Project.

The project is being implemented by African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) and Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprise Programme (FARMSE).

AICC Project Manager, Henry Mlinde, made the remarks Friday during a field visit to some beneficiaries in Dedza.

According to Mlinde, the beneficiaries are vulnerable individuals under the Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP).

The project targets 2,500 beneficiaries in both Dedza and Ntcheu and the 1,277 is the first batch.

"The program intends to graduate 2,500 vulnerable households. In total they will be getting K505,000. Currently, in the first batch, they are receiving K252,500 with another K252,500 coming their way in the first quarter of second year beginning this May," said Mlinde.

He said the cash will enable the beneficiaries not to solely depend on SCTP as the businesses will also help them graduate from poverty.

He, therefore, appealed to the beneficiaries to use the money for the intended purpose.

The beneficiaries have been mentored and coached for a period of nine months in readiness for the seed capital.

"With that expertise, we are hoping that the money is going to be used for the intended purpose. But we will also continue monitoring them," he said

One of the beneficiaries, Tiadalire Lekiyasi, from Lingaka Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kachere in Dedza, expressed gratitude to the two organizations with hope that her Irish potato selling business will thrive and be able to provide for her household.

The initiative is being funded by IFAD and Malawi Government through the Ministry of Finance.