By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, January 9, Mana: Participants of Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme(CS-EPWP) in Nkhata Bay have commended the programme for unlocking their business potential.
Nemesi Mphande from Chiomba village in Senior Chief Fukamapiri said through the wages they receive after working, she started a business selling tomatoes and usipa.
She said this Wednesday during the launch of the third cycle pay parade of wages to program participants in the district.
"I am grateful for the programme because, from the K48,000.00 I receive, I have managed to start a business selling tomatoes and fish, enabling me to take care of my family with ease," Mphande said.
Another participant, Wellington Chirwa, 48, from Chimika Village in the same area, said he used the wages to start pig farming.
“I used the wages to buy a pig at K35,000.00, and from today's wages, I will add more pigs," he said.
On her part, Victoria Nkhoma from Chibunya Village, Group Village Head Chavula, said she can now support her children's education through the program.
"I used the money I received after working to top up my capital selling plastic bags.
"Today, I can support my children, a third-year student at Malawi University of Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and another one at Kapanda Community Day Secondary School with school fees and my business is growing, " she said.
She therefore urged her fellow participants to invest the money for it to multiply.
In his remarks, CSE-PWP District Programme Facilitator Edward Ngwemba said that currently work is progressing well in all 14 catchments for the fourth cycle, and participants are expected to get their wages as early as February.
"In this phase, we are focusing on riverbank protection through tree and vertiver planting, among others, as you know that we are in the rainy season.
“Let me urge all frontline workers to always preach this message and always make sure that all data is correctly captured for smooth processing of the wages,” he said.
CS-EPWP is one of component of Social Support for Resilience Livelihoods Project implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee with Funding from the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
