Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries in Ntchisi District have acquired assets and ventured into businesses courtesy of the social safety net initiative. One of the beneficiaries, Mathias John, from Traditional Authority (T/A) Chilooko, who was enrolled into the programme in 2018, said his life changed after venturing into irrigation farming. “I invested the money into farming and I used the proceeds to build a house, buy a water pump, acquire a motorcycle and purchase land where I constructed a shop,” he said.
The success stories of the initiative attracted National Local Government Finance Committee board chairperson Richard Chapweteka, who visited beneficiaries on Wednesday to appreciate their milestones. Said Chapweteka: “What we have seen is undisputable evidence that social protection is about empowerment. “We have seen real assets on the ground.
We have seen businesses growing. We have seen confidence among the members telling their stories from the beginning with clear stages of transformation.” The del egation also appreciated pavilions mounted by Phululu Comsip Cluster showcasing enterprises, including tailoring and welding products, locally produced wine, dishwashing liquid, processed foods, agricultural produce and a cluster-run butchery. “As a country, we must learn from what these communities are doing and replicate the investments for more impact,” said Chapweteka.
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Ntchisi district commissioner Annie Zimba said the district is registering positive results from the programme. “We are doing well in terms of achieving the programme’s objective of ensuring that vulnerable communities in the district have something sustainable to survive on,” she said.
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