By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, December 11, Mana: Participants under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP), who are currently receiving their wages in 24 catchment areas in Dedza District have expressed their excitement saying the money has come at the right time when they are struggling to meet certain basic needs.
Speaking in separate interviews at the start of the pay parade on Tuesday, some participants said they will now be able to purchase fertilizer while others said they will buy food for their households.
Nalifera Lackson from Jojo Village under Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachere in the district said she has three children who are depending on her.
“I currently do not have food. I will use part of the money to buy food that will help to push us in this lean season. I also plan to use a little money to start a small-scale business to sustain my family,” said Lackson.
Another woman, Masautso Stelaman from Mwangodzuma Village said she would use the money to buy affordable farm inputs.
“This money has come at the right time. I will use it properly by making sure that my crop field is taken care of. I will also buy some basic needs,” said Stelaman.
In her remarks, Dedza District Council Computer Analyst, Elites Majawa, said although there are some challenges such as missing some names of participants while others have no identity cards (IDs), the process of giving money is going well.
“Some lost their IDs and we previously advised them on what they can do. However, they have not followed the procedures. There are still options which we are doing as long as they provide additional information,” said Majawa.
Dedza District Project Facilitator for CS-EPWP, Jocaster Mnemba Khoriyo, said over 21, 000 participants are receiving their wages under cycle 2 across the 24 catchments in the district with each one of them receiving K48,000.
CS-EPWP is a social support for resilience programme being implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee with support from the World Bank and a multi-donor trust fund.
