Government has purchased 1,930 cellular phones to be distributed to some beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer (SCT)programme, in Lundazi district.
The move is aimed at removing bottlenecks in the disbursement of the bi-monthly funds to beneficiaries, where some lack mobile phones to facilitate mobile money transfers.
Lundazi District Social Welfare Officer Lackson Manda said the phones will be distributed to the elderly people and persons with disabilities on the SCT programme to enable them redeem funds on time.
In Lundazi District, a total of 12,500 beneficiaries are on the SCT programme of which 8,508 are female and 3,992 are male beneficiaries.
The Social Welfare Officer disclosed that the March-April 2026 payment cycle has been made.
He however said some beneficiaries on the SCT were still facing challenges to redeem their funds on time owing to lack of phones.
“Beneficiaries who do not own cellular phones find it difficult to redeem their funds on time,” the Social Welfare Officer stated.
“Some SCT beneficiaries on the programme find it challenging to redeem funds as they do not own phones. They move with sim cards wrapped in plastic bags and have to look for someone with a phone for them to access funds sent to their mobile money accounts, “Mr Manda said.
He said the elderly people and persons with disabilities are the most affected beneficiaries.
“We will be distributing the 1,930 phones to the aged and persons with disabilities so that they could be finding it easy to redeem SCT funds from their mobile money accounts.
“The distribution of 1,930 phones to SCT is expected to ease the redeeming of money by those without phones,” the social welfare officer stated, further thanking government for the gesture.
