By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, May 13, Mana: Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries at Senior Chief Chimwala in Mangochi have commend Malawi Government and a German Cooperation, KFW, for bailing vulnerable households out of the 2024/2025 lean season when households received cash and relief maize to keep them going.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude over the prrogramme during a media tour organised by Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare to appreciate impact of the social protection programme in the district.

Government with support from KFW provided K70,000 per household in the lean period for a period of three months apart from continuing supporting 28,000 households across Mangochi through SCTP.

One of the beneficiaries, Margret Anderson, from Kausi Village said the financial support helped her purchase food during the lean season.

Anderson said she could not make ends meet for her seven children as they would go to school without food.

“The cash assisted me a lot. I bought maize, and other home necessities. Without this money I would not survive the situation,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Ester Uladi, said she could not afford nutritious food as the situation pushed her family into malnutrition.

“My children missed classes due to illnesses. Health workers said they were malnourished and bound to illness.

“Soon after receiving cash through SCTP, I bought maize and other food stuffs and life came back to normal into our family. All my five children started attending classes,” she added.

Uladi, therefore, asked government to continue with the programme, saying many households in her area have no food due to poor harvest from prolonged drought.

Social Welfare Officer for Mangochi District Council, Michael Ndimbo, said 28,000 ultra-poor households are expected to benefit from the programme in the district.

He, therefore, advised beneficiaries to develop a culture of saving by forming savings and loans groups to ensure financial independent for sustainable livelihood.

“‘We would wish beneficiaries to invest what they receive into small businesses so that they graduate to stand on their own,” he said.

SCTP aims at reducing poverty, hunger and improve children’s development by providing regular cash payments to vulnerable households.

The programme’s key goals include; increasing school enrollment, improving health and nutrition, and providing a safety net during lean seasons.