THE Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Nicholas Phiri, has expressed his displeasure with the Vubwi Town Council for delaying the implementation of the Cash for Work programme.
Despite the community members being severely affected by hunger, resulting to satisfy their hunger with the seasonal sweet fruit, Manogo, the council has failed to commence the initiative.
During a visit to the newly appointed Chief Pemba Moyo, Phiri learned that residents in Vubwi were eating mangoes for survival due to the lack of food.
The Chief lamented the council’s inaction, stating that many people in the community were struggling to cope with the drought.
“From the time the council passed through the community to register names for the beneficiaries, there has never been progress so that the people can begin to work and make money,” Chief Moyo said.
“Sometimes, I fail to respond because I don’t know what to tell them as their chief. It is so unfortunate, I really feel bad to see my people eating and cooking small mangoes to survive. They are now eating mangoes for meals despite government promising them relief money in exchange for works,” the Chief said.
Phiri termed the development as failure to obey government policies by the local authority.
Following President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration that not a single Zambian “must die out of hunger,” the ministry introduced the Cash For Work Programme which is a hunger elimination initiative to help families and individuals who can’t afford to buy meals due to the drought effects.
These individuals are being identified by the local authorities and must be those that are currently not benefiting from any relief programmes such as social cash transfer.
The PS emphasised that government had sent funds amounting to K8,046.018 to the district earlier this month, specifically for the Cash for Work Programme to alleviate the suffering of the people.
“You only have 2,235 people for Vubwi…We only have six wards in the district (Vubwi) and we sent you money, within the first week that the money came. These are things that I do not like because your fellow colleagues at the ministry in Lusaka were not sleeping at the office just to get the money in their accounts,” Phiri said.
“Council secretary what is this? In Chipata people have already started working. Kanyama has over 5,000 beneficiaries and people are working. You, you have only 2,000 and they are not working. We are paid to work for the public, that’s why we are public servants. You are busy eating nshima in your homes and people are staying with hunger. You are keeping the money in the account. How are we going to save the people like this?”
He urged the council to act swiftly and begin the initiative immediately.
The council secretary, Vincent Mwale, admitted the council’s mistake and pledged to commence the programme promptly as the Cash for Work initiative is expected to last for six months.
By Buumba Mwitumwa in Vubwi
Kalemba September 25, 2024
