By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, February 15, Mana: Blantyre District Council, through the Community Environmental Conservation Fund (CECF) under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP), has disbursed US$57,318 (approximately K99.2 million) to communities participating in environmental conservation in the district.
The cash presentations were made on Friday to 37 Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs) in the micro-catchment areas of Namitondo, Nkajidi, Nkaladzi, and Mulanga where MWASIP is implementing its interventions.
District Project Coordinator, Owen Malimba told Malawi News agency (Mana) that the funds are meant to help communities participating in environmental restoration uplift their livelihood through small-scale business.
“This is the revolving fund used to provide micro-credit to community members involved in the VLAP activities under MWASIP while they are implementing the project activities.
“The funds are given upon successful implementation of sustainable land management (SLM) activities in their catchment areas as an incentive to communities that have done well in sustainable land management activities,” said Malimba.
He added that each VLAP received an annual grant of US$2,500 (approximately K4.3 million) upon reaching the targets in sustainable land management and forest management activities.
Masautso Lodson from the Mkaladzi micro-catchment, Traditional Authority Kunthembwe’s area whose club has received K4 million, hailed MWASIP for the grant, saying the money will be used for the intended purpose of improving their livelihood through small-scale business.
Senior Chief Kunthembwe of Blantyre thanked Blantyre District Council for implementing MWASIP interventions in the area, saying his area had registered a great impact regarding watershed management and improved livelihoods of his subjects.
The Traditional leader then described the provision of funds as timely and that it would motivate communities to put more effort into conserving the environment.
