By Beatrice Bangula

Blantyre, June 23, Mana: Communities in Blantyre District have hailed the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP) for accelerating economic opportunities in their households.

This was said Friday during an assessment of how communities are implementing activities solely to restore the degraded landscape.

Member for Mwayi Trust Sub-catchment, Anne Swedish, from M'banda Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kunthembwe said the project has changed her life economically.

"We gather stones and place them in several lines inside the gully, this controls the running water speed and the lines of stones in the gullies assist in detaining the sand which will result in gully reclamation. In the end, we get paid,” she said.

Member for Chinkhali Sub catchment, Caleb Kasawala, from Kasawala Village, TA Kuntaja concurred with Swedish that the project has transformed their lives in different ways.

"This project has transformed our lives; issues of school funds for our children are no longer a challenge because we are paid for doing these activities, " he said.

Land Resource Conservation Officer for Blantyre District Council, Salatiel Mthyoka, was satisfied with the way participants are conducting activities in their groups.

"I am impressed with the way participants have welcomed the initiative since CSEPWP is focusing on integrated watershed management, covering sub-projects such as land resource conservation, afforestation and natural regeneration,” he said.

In Blantyre, the programme has about 17,000 participants in 15 catchments.

CSEPWP is funded by the World Bank, facilitated by the National Local Government Finance committee and is being implemented by councils across the country.