By Yankho Kandio

Salima February 9, Mana: Officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) held a crucial meeting with stakeholders in Salima to assess the progress of the Lean Season Social Cash Transfer Programme.

The lean season response initiative aims to support vulnerable households affected by drought.

The program being implemented nationwide, varies in duration depending on the severity of need in each district.

Salima has been allocated four months of response assistance, with two months already completed.

Speaking during a council meeting, in the Salima district, Disaster Preparedness Officer Brian Zikamale provided a comprehensive update on the program's rollout plan.

 "In the past two months, each registered household including those under the El Niño disaster response program and those enrolled in the regular Social Cash Transfer Program received a 50kg bag of maize per month to help them cope with food shortages," he said.

“Salima has a total of 33,759 households enrolled in the program, directly benefiting an estimated 183,690 people. Among these, 10,877 households are part of the Social Cash Transfer Program and will now transition to receiving cash assistance instead of maize for the remaining two months of the response,” said Zikamale.

He said this shift will be supported by a budget allocation of K761 million ensuring that each household receives K70,000, equivalent to the market price of a 50kg bag of maize.

Officials agreed that this adjustment aims to offer greater flexibility for beneficiaries, allowing them to purchase food or other essential household items according to their specific needs.

It also aligns with efforts to promote financial inclusion by encouraging the use of mobile money services.

On his part, Salima District Commissioner, James Mwenda, expressed satisfaction with the program's implementation, highlighting its role in improving the quality of life for affected households.

"The program has been crucial in providing relief to families struggling with food shortages due to the drought. This assistance has helped to ensure that vulnerable households have access to food and other necessities," Mwenda said.

While acknowledging the program’s success, Senior Chief Khombedza raised concerns about the need for transparency and inclusivity in the distribution process.

Khombedza urged DoDMA officials to ensure equitable access to support and emphasized the importance of effective communication with communities to prevent misunderstandings or exclusions.

Additionally, stakeholders proposed measures to improve programme’s efficiency, including strengthening beneficiary verification processes and enhancing collaboration between local leaders and program coordinators to ensure that support reaches those most in need.