Deputy Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Halima Daudi, has hailed Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries in Chitipa District for investing money they get from the programme into fixed assets.
Daudi said this Thursday at Kasisi, Senior Chief Mwabulambya in the district after visiting some of the programme’s beneficiaries.
She noted that beneficiaries have transformed their livelihoods, which she said is one of the objectives of the programme.
She acknowledged that many of the beneficiaries have acquired assets like pigs, goats, chickens and some are even paying school fees for learners.
“As government, we are happy with how SCTP beneficiaries have acquired assets after joining the social protection programme. We have visited some who have built houses roofed with iron sheets. Others have installed electricity in their houses, which is commendable.
“It is the wish of government that every Malawian should be economically independent hence the introduction of social protection programmes like SCTP,” Daudi said.
A 68 year-old Luckness Nasonga of Kasisi 1 Village, Senior Chief Mwabulambya, thanked government for the programme saying it has helped many people in her area to come out of poverty.
Nawonga said she is now living in an iron roofed house with cement floor because of SCTP.
“I have all what I wanted to have in life. I have built a house from the programme and have enough food which lasts the whole year. I also have goats and chickens,” Nasonga said.
Chairperson for Chitipa District Council, Ronald Kayira, said SCTP has helped many households in the district to have fixed assets.
SCTP started in 2008 targeting 5,555 ultra-poor households in eight Traditional Authorities in the district.
