By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, September 21, Mana: Women in Senior Chief Kachindamoto under Mtakataka area in Dedza district, have expressed gratitude for the money received under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) saying it will ease hunger that has hit their households.

The women made the remarks on Friday when the council was finalizing the disbursement of the funds to the participants of the program.

About 28,870 community members have received money amounting to K38,400 each having worked for 24 days. Their work included the construction of swales, gully reclamation, taking care of natural regeneration, and tree nursery establishments among others.

Lecia Christiano from Kakhome village said she was happy to have received the money and she hoped to buy food for her household.

However, she said unlike in the past, when more people were into charcoal burning, the program has demonstrated that they should be the game changer as vegetation is being restored.

Another woman, Nasoweka Saizi, from the same area said she was grateful to government for being part of the program.

“Our farming activities are now easy because of the way we are taking care of them. They are clear and smart. Our vegetation is even better than before,” she said

Saizi added that the money she received will feed her household and also enable her to get school items for her children.

Mwayiwawo Mathotho, another participant, said the money will likely close some gaps at her home while hoping her children will not be hit by malnutrition.

“Words fail me because I am part of this program. The money I have received today will help me buy food for my family as you might be aware that we had erratic rains in the last farming season which contributed to hunger that is hitting us hard,” she stated.

On his part, Franklin Gomani, Dedza district council, Land Resources Conservation Officer and also CS-EPWP’s Desk Officer said the program is going towards empowering the communities to be financially stable.

Gomani added that participants can buy food items, farm inputs, and school materials for their children.

“In terms of mitigating the effects of climate change or conserving the environment, we have at least done quite a lot, as the areas where we have put structures to harvest and control erosion is quite huge,” he said.

He, however, bemoaned inadequate key personnel and resource constraints, especially vehicles which he said hamper timely supervision efforts.

The CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods and is being implemented under the National Local Governance Finance Committee with funding from the World Bank