By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, September 16, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi has called for upon beneficiaries of the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) loans to exercise discipline when utilizing funds accessed from the Fund.

He made the call on Monday, during a consultative meeting organized by NEEF held to solicit views from Senior Chiefs and Traditional Leaders from Salima.

Usi said loans accessed from NEEF are meant to impact the lives of beneficiaries economically through channeling the resources enterprises such as farming, establishing businesses and any other ventures that are profitable.

"The aim of NEEF loans is to give people their dignity, respect and sense of purpose, if one accesses a loan we expect that their lives should be transformed for the better, therefore I am urging proper utilization of these loans," the Vice President stated.

He said the loans are being disbursed with no consideration of one’s background or political affiliation because the aim is to reduce poverty every region across the country.

"What we want is to have hardworking and zealous Malawians to access these loans so that they can be able to employ others to break the chain of poverty in the country," Usi added.

The Vice President called on NEEF authorities to streamline the loan application process by removing barriers such as collateral and facilitating access for all individuals.

He encouraged NEEF beneficiaries to prioritize loan repayments and uphold discipline, emphasizing their contribution to the progress and development of the country.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for NEEF, Humphrey Mdyetseni highlighted that the Fund was committed to ensuring that the loans benefit the intended Beneficiaries, stating that the institution was expected to disburse K 70 billion this year.

Council Chairperson for Salima District Council, Ephraim Manthera recognized government’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of Malawians.

He anticipated Salima's transformation through the NEEF programme, empowering its people to enhance their livelihoods effectively.

"It is our hope that through the farm input loans, many people from Salima will continue benefiting from the loans," Manthera noted.

Speaking on behalf of Traditional Leaders, Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga commended government for establishing NEEF, which has proven to be advantageous to many people in Salima District.

She urged NEEF to actively involve more women and youth in their loan programmes, asserting that such initiatives would mitigate poverty levels among communities in the district.