By Solister Mogha

Zomba April 4, Mana: Zomba District Council on Wednesday awarded 23 Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs) performance-based grants amounting to K58.8 million through the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP).

The VNRMCs get grants as part of appreciating their commitment in land and forest management along the Shire River basin.

Speaking during the grant awarding ceremony at Chinseu in Traditional Authority Nkapita’s area, MWASIP District Coordinator Mackenley Dupu said the grants were meant to motivate village groups to seriously implement land and natural resources activities under the project.

“Apart from motivating the groups, the grants are also given to improve the livelihood of people working in the project so that they should establish small scale businesses. This is not something free, the grants are given after a vigorous assessment of the groups impact made in their respective catchments.” he added.

While congratulating the groups for receiving the money, Dupu encouraged them to work extra hard to attract more grants and further asked the recipients to use the grants for the intended purpose.

“What I can assure you of is that the project has more grants to offer and all what is required is your dedication,” he said.

The performance grants were given based on activities each group implemented irrespective of its membership.

Patrick Gonani of Mgonanyani VNRMC, which got K4.2 million, hailed MWASIP for honouring its promise of awarding best performing committees, saying the grants will enable members in the group to open businesses that will improve households’ income.

“The grants have come at the right time and we promise to use the money for its intended purpose. You should expect that groups will seriously implement activities in line with project objectives,” Gonani assured.

Traditional Authority Nkapita also commended MWASIP for the grants which he described as a huge investment in his area.

“Through the small scale businesses, the whole community stands a chance to benefit from the grants. I therefore commend MWASIP for the huge investment and also assure the council of my total support to the project,” the chief said.

Depending on implementation of the project, some groups were awarded K4 million while other got K1 million.