By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, April 24, Mana: Participants in social protection programs in Nkhotakota district have commended government for the ongoing programs, saying they are improving the people’s livelihoods.

Speaking in an interview with Mana on Thursday, one participant of social cash transfer program, Kapochi Piyasi, of Mtete Village in the area of Senior Chief Mwadzama, said he has managed to build a house, buy six goats, and a bicycle through the money he receives, adding that he is now investing to become self-reliant even without the program.

"Before the program, I was living in poverty: I was depending on my relatives to help me feed and manage my family, but now I have a good house that qualifies to be called home and it is all because of the support I get from the social cash transfer program," he explained.

Another beneficiary, Malita Chimera, said, with children to look after on her own, life was not as simple as all she did was rely on piece work to bring food and their family necessities.

After being enrolled into the Public Works Program in 2019, she said life changed, and she is now one of the well-known livestock farmers in her area of residence since she started investing the money she got from the program into goats and chicken farming.

A 78-year-old Mumdelanji Chimbano of Ngumbwe in the area of Senior Chief Mwadzama, who is also enrolled in the social cash transfer program, said the money she received every month, is assisting her to, among other things, access health services due to her age.

“When I feel sick due to my old age, I use the money as transport to receive medical treatment. I am also depending on the money for food and basic needs as you can see, I can’t manage to venture into farming activities,” she said.

Principal Social Welfare officer for Nkhotakota, Osward Mwale, said these programs are important to communities as they improve their livelihoods beyond expectations.

He encouraged participants to invest in livestock, or save their money through other related ventures like savings and loan groups in their communities for further benefit.

Between the social cash transfer and public works programs funded by the World Bank and Multi-donor Trust Fund, over 26,000 households are enrolled in these social protection programs in Nkhotakota.