By: Steve Chirombo

Dedza, December 23, Mana:  Participants under the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) who braved heat waves and gathered at Golomoti Agriculture offices in Dedza, have hailed government and Dedza council authorities for the timely payment of their wages, saying the money is a relief in this year's Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Conducting random interviews on Monday, several women expressed excitement during the programme’s pay parade in the area.

Malisera Petro from John village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachindamoto in the district said she will use the money to buy food and other things which together with her children will use to celebrate the festive season in style.

"We experienced dry spells during last year's growing season. I don't have food for my family and this money will greatly support my family during this festive season and beyond," Petro said.

83 year-old Velena Hauya from the same area expressed her gratitude with the programme saying the K48, 000 was a game changer for her household in this festive season.

Hauya said: "I am an old person who has never worked in my community and got a reward just like what CS-EPWP has done. These are initiatives that enable us to positively make contributions to our communities. Let it be noted that part of the money will be given to my grandchildren during this festive season to at least buy a few soft drinks.”

However, Holex Chilanga from Bizale Village, T/A Kachindamoto said he had no money to buy fertilizer and would specifically use the money for that.

"I had planted maize and currently it needs fertilizer. This payment is therefore timely. We have made swales and tree nurseries and paying us for the initiatives that equally support ourselves is quite interesting," stated Chilanga.

In her remarks, Computer Analyst, for Dedza district council, Elites Majawa said the challenges that are being experienced are almost the same in all the catchments in the district.

She said some participants lost their IDs and were advised on what to do.

“However, they haven’t followed the procedures. There are still options which we are doing if they provide additional required information," she said.

CS-EPWP District Project Facilitator for Dedza, Jocaster Mnemba Khoriyo said over 22, 000 have so far benefited from the programme in all the 24 catchments across the district.

The programmer is a social support for resilience being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with support from the World Bank and multi-donor trust fund.