Mon, 19 Feb 2018 10:11:29 +0000
BY PETER MALASHA
MINISTRY of Community Development and Social Welfare in Mkushi has started dishing out social cash transfer money to beneficiaries for the first time since inception of the programme.
Mkushi District Commissioner (DC) Luka Mwamba disclosed the development to the Daily Nation in an interview.
Mr. Mwamba explained that a total of K690,200 has already been disbursed to the eligible beneficiaries in various parts of the district.
“The beneficiary households are receiving social cash transfer money ranging from K180 to K360 and this money will be paid monthly for the rest of their lives. It is an incredible gesture by government for people of Mkushi. “I really thank the republican President Edigar Lungu for the initiative and for scaling up of the social cash programme in the country as well as making it a practical reality for people of Mkushi to benefit,” Mr. Mwamba said.
The DC further hailed the Community Development and Social welfare department for capturing about 2,690 household on the programme last year which has produced fruits and shamed the critics of programme.
Mr. Mwamba added that, this year the department was targeting to capture about 5,833 households to be part of the beneficiaries of the programme so as to improve livelihood of the vulnerable in society.
Mr. Mwamba said during his fact finding mission on the unfolding of the programme in selective areas, people are very happy about the beneficial government programme.
“I visited Kasalamakanga and Miloso areas people are very grateful to the government for this development. Saying it will go along way in changing their lives.” Mr. Mwamba said.
Mr. Mwamba said currently the department was facing challenges with transport and are using his vehicle to visit various places.
He has since appealed to the Minister of Community Development and Social welfare Emmerine Kabanshi to expedite provision of a vehicle to the department in a bid to facilitate movements.
Meanwhile, youths in Mkushi have appealed to the Chinese company awarded contract to finish up township road works left by Karen Motors to employ local people.
Mkushi District youth coordinating committee coordinator Bright Mumba said this in a statement to the Daily Nation.
Mr. Mumba who is also Strategic Youth Organisation (SYO) President said the local authority and the district leadership should ensure that the 20% local based contractor obligation was strictly honoured so that the local contractors are jobs as sub-contractors not outsiders.
“As youths we want to support Mkushi North Member of Parliament (MP) Doreen Mwape’s call to create job opportunities for local people. In this regard, we want Mkushi youths to be given priority in employment despite being temporal but it will make a difference,” Mr. Mumba said.
Mr. Mumba further called for maximum transparency during the process of recruitment so that the exercise will be done to the expectation of the community and district leadership.
The youth leader added that youths in the area were looking forward to benefit from the project hence the need for the road construction company to look into the plight of the youths.
Mr. Mumba said it was high time youths of Mkushi benefited from the developmental projects of the district unlike the situation were outsiders grabbed what belonged to the locals.
