Government says it is committed to the continued implementation of the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) scheme.
Community Development and Social Services Minister, Olipa Phiri said the scheme offers social protection support to incapacitated and vulnerable members of society.
Speaking in Kalabo district during the launch of payments of the bi-monthly grants at Kancumwa Basic School, Mrs. Phiri said Government considers social protection as a key intervention towards supporting economic growth, reducing poverty and promoting equity and human rights.
Mrs. Phiri said Government therefore, has a responsibility to ensure that the grants are delivered to the intended beneficiaries as promised.
The minister assured beneficiaries that they will be paid all their dues adding that, she was aware that they have not received their bi-monthly grants for some time.
She said Government shall continue to prioritize the well-being and plight of incapacitated and vulnerable members of society.
ZANIS reports that the remarks were contained in a speech read on her behalf by Western Province Assistant Permanent Secretary, Katungu Mukwambuyu.
Meanwhile, SCT Manager, Bernadette Malungo said challenges which characterised disbursement of grants have been resolved.
Earlier, Kalabo District Administrative Officer, Siyupwa Kabisa said Government has released two million kwacha for disbursement to 9,900 beneficiaries in Kalabo district for the bi-monthly period March-April 2018.
Mr. Kabisa said Kalabo has expanded the enrollment from 3,000 beneficiaries since inception of the scheme in 2010 to over 9,000 in 2018.
He said the expansion affirms that SCT is a social protection policy aimed at reducing the economic burden among the poorest population.
And passing a vote of thanks on behalf of fellow beneficiaries, Charity Pelekelo thanked Government for implementing the Social Cash Transfer scheme.
Ms. Pelekelo said the scheme has improved livelihoods of vulnerable households in accessing basic needs such as food and school fees.
She has since implored fellow beneficiaries to improve their living conditions by putting the funds to good use in order to avoid falling back into abject poverty.
Social Cash Transfer scheme is one of the components of Zambia’s social protection interventions through which bi-monthly grants are given to vulnerable households who meet the required benchmarks.
Zambians are deeply immersed in third world mentality. It’s hard to get them to accept progressive change.
The only thing this lazy government is committed to do is steal more and more money from the poor Zambians.
Headline should have been “government committed to stealing using social cash transfer scheme” because that is what they are going to do anyway.
Instead of doing social cash transfer why can’t we transfer CHILDISH to PANAMA?
Kikikikikiki…..frustration has really eaten the minds of the trib.als…..kikikikikiki…they just have to say something, even trib.al gibberish!
They are broke already with the money they stole which they claim they paid back, ba pompwe kufwaya ukwiba futi, that`s what they know best, the intended recipients are you very deep pockets where all the money ends up,you corrupt morons with no regard for the poor.
Really laughable …now they remember that money the threw in the faces of DFID all to protect Macpherson CHANDA ( Yes related to SUNDAY CHANDA…blood brother to be exact)
This is a good initiative.It will go a long way to help the elderly,old widows,old widowers and those the society has forgotten.Nigeria is doing this too.