Deputy Minister for Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Martha Mzomera Ngwira, has urged beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer Programme to use the support productively to improve their households’ welfare and uplift their livelihoods.
Ngwira made the call on Wednesday at M’gawamadzi Cluster in Traditional Authority Chiwere, Dowa, where she monitored the ongoing enrolment of beneficiaries under the programme.
Speaking to Yetu FM, Ngwira says she is impressed with the turnout of beneficiaries in Dowa and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to increasing both the number of beneficiaries and the amount of money they receive.
Dowa Principal Social Welfare Officer, Ndamiwe Msiska, disclosed that 16,832 people are currently benefiting from the programme in the district, against a target of 19,001 households.
Msiska also concurred with the ministry’s plans of increasing the amount of money beneficiaries receive saying it will cushion them from the rising cost of a living.
One of the beneficiaries, Khumbize Kachikumba, says the Social Cash Transfer has helped improve her economic wellbeing and enabled her to venture into livestock production.
Yetu FM understands that the Social Cash Transfer Programme aims to reduce poverty and address malnutrition among vulnerable households in the district.