By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, April 2, Mana: Blantyre District Council has disbursed K20 million to 48 women's village savings and loan (VSL) groups in Blantyre North Constituency to enable the groups boost their income generating activities.

The groups include Matondo, Tagwirizana, Kamphikamtama, Tikondane, Chilipa, Lirangwe, Tuyanjana, Gwirizano, Chitsanzo, and Zayahwe.

Speaking during the symbolic presentation of a cheque on Tuesday at Traditional Authority (TA) Lundu, Blantyre District Council Principal Gender and Development Officer, Stephano Joseph, disclosed that the K20 million is part of the K200 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) meant for the implementation of development projects in the constituency.

“This is a good development because the money has been injected directly to the groups to either venture into income-generating activities or top up their business ventures.

“This money will be operating as a revolving fund, and the council will be responsible to monitor utilization of the funds so that it benefits many communities in the constituency,” he said.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Blantyre North, Francis Phiso, said each group received different loan amounts ranging from K400,000 to K500,000 depending on their membership, existence and type of business ventures, among others.

“This is the first cohort in this constituency to benefit from this initiative, which is solely coming from the government coffers. Next set of groups will be considered in the coming financial year,” he said.

He advised the group members to invest the money for intended purpose to scale up their businesses.

Umodzi Group Secretary, Dyna Bright, hailed Blantyre District Council and their legislator, Phiso, for empowering women groups, observing that the initiative will encourage women, who are mostly vulnerable in the society, to actively engage in various income generating activities to sustain their livelihoods.

Bright, whose 16 member group received K500,000, pledged to use the money to boost their business of selling farm produce, saying the funds came at the right time when farmers were about to harvest their produce.

In 2024, a similar ceremony was held in Blantyre North East Constituency, where the council, through MP, Fidson Chisesere, handed over K9 million to women and youth groups in the constituency.