Government has assured that all outstanding payments amounting to K119 million under Phase One of the Cash for Work programme will be cleared before the commencement of Phase Two.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Nicholas Phiri said the arrears affect about 200,000 beneficiaries and that the process of settling the payments has already begun.
He said Phase One of the programme reached about 3.5 million people nationwide, with over K2 billion spent to provide temporary employment aimed at supporting households and preventing starvation.
Mr Phiri was speaking yesterday in Chongwe during the official opening of an orientation workshop for town clerks and council secretaries on the revised Cash for Work Programme.
He disclosed that K28.5 million has so far been disbursed in Lusaka and that payments will continue across the country until the full amount is settled.
Mr Phiri stressed that Phase Two will not begin until all Phase One beneficiaries are paid, adding that the approach is intended to safeguard the integrity of the programme.
He acknowledged the role of technical teams, partners, and the 87 local authorities that implemented Phase One of the programme.
The permanent secretary said government has taken note of challenges experienced during Phase One, particularly delays in payments, and that measures have been put in place to improve implementation going forward.
The Cash for Work programme is part of government’s social protection initiatives aimed at providing income support to vulnerable households.
Shouldn’t it be CASH AFTER WORK IF THIS GRZ was honest
200,000 owed K119 million
Only K600 each. The announcement makes it look big!