By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries in Chitipa District have asked government to adjust their monthly stipends to cushion them from the effects devaluation of the local currency.

One of the beneficiaries, James Kabaghe of Mwenebanda Village in the area of Senior Chief Mwabulambya in the district, Tuesday said that an average of K15, 000.00 per month per household is not enough to meet the cost of households’ basic needs.

He made the remarks when Parliamentary Committee on Governance, Assurance and Public Sector Reform visited some of the beneficiaries to appreciate impact of the programme.

“K15, 000.00 is not enough. We cannot buy basic things with this money, we therefore ask government to adjust upwards the amount,” Kabaghe said.

Principal Secretary Responsible for Finance and Administration in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Nwazi Mnthambala said the call to have the amount revised upwards has been echoed by almost all the beneficiaries in all areas visited by the committee across the country.

“This is something that the ministry is considering. We are doing something and it will be framed up with input from the committee’s report. The request is justifiable,” said Mnthambala.

Vice Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Governance, Assurance and Public Sector Reform, Francesca Theula said the committee has noted the program`s impact on people’s livelihoods, though not so huge.

“We will take the beneficiaries’ call to have their stipend increased to Parliament for a discussion,” Theula explained.

Currently, SCTP reaches out to over 293,000 households in Malawi, representing 1.2 million beneficiaries of which 70 percent are women and 60 percent children.

On average, a benefiting households receives K15,000.00 monthly.