By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, January 11, Mana: Rumphi District Council has disbursed at least K3 billion to at least 3600 beneficiaries under Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) since 2018 which has helped in improving the welfare of targeted group.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Coordinator of the Programme for Rumphi, Abel Ndlovu says a number of beneficiaries who have now been weaned off the programme have managed to build decent houses and established small scale businesses to support themselves.
He added that the economy of the district has also benefited as a majority of beneficiaries are farmers and are able to sell the surplus to others within and beyond which brings more money into the district.
"As a council we are happy with the transformation the programme has brought to a number of households in the district for the last cohort which has now graduated from the programme.
"We have currently enrolled at least 5600 new beneficiaries for the next phase and we hope they will also use the money productively to improve the welfare of their households," said Ndlovu.
One of the beneficiaries, Marry Kumwenda from Chikalamba Village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe says the SCTP money has helped her establish a vegetable business which supports her children's school needs.
She has also managed to bring tap water to her house giving her access to clean and portable water for her household.
She added that business management training she received through her villages savings group also helps her to run her business profitably.
Another beneficiary, Flyness Mhone from Chuzu Village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe says the programme has enabled her to take care of her elderly mother, who is also mentally ill, through a small scale farming business.
Mhone grows maize and groundnuts which she sells to meet other needs of the house such as soap and other groceries in addition to fertilizers for her farm.
SCTP is Malawi Government programme under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Programme (SSRLP) which is funded by World Bank and Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF).
The programme targets the utra poor that are labour constrained including child headed families, elderly and people with physical disabilities, among others.
