By Lawrence Chilomo, MANA
Traditional Authority (T/A) Ndakwera of Chikwawa has appealed to communities that have started receiving compensation following the Shire Valley Transformation Program (SVTP) to avoid overspending their money.
The development follows reports that some community members who have started benefiting from the canal program have gone rampant; spending their money carelessly with others withdrawing more money from the banks for no apparent reason and others are buying Lifos (motorcycles) for their enjoyment.
Granting an interview to the Malawi News Agency (Mana) recently, T/A Ndakwera warned the beneficiaries against misusing the money.
“It is noted that some community members, having benefited from the program, are on a spending spree drinking from one place to another as well as purchasing things that are not important.
“It is my plea and expectation that those benefiting from the program should wisely use the money. They should always remember that this is a once off opportunity and they should be able to invest,” said Ndakwera.
The chief further advised the community members to support the irrigation development saying it will see more people benefiting.
“The program will greatly help many people as you might be aware that we have had dry spells for quite a good number of years. This comes in as a relief as many people will be cultivating different cash crops more than once a year,” he said.
Councilor for Bwabwali Ward, Gerald Bede emphasized that people should not forget the problems they had before they received compensation from the program.
“People should be responsible in the way they are spending the money. They must ensure that they invest in a way that will help them in time of need,” Bede said.
One of the beneficiaries, Smiton Zyanero from Mkanyoza Village, T/A Ndakwera also advised his friends to use the money wisely.
“As one of the beneficiaries, the money has transformed my status. I have managed to buy another land for farming, motorcycle and now I am in the process of constructing houses,” said Zyanero without specifically disclosing how much he acquired as a compensation from the program.
The multi-million kwacha SVTP has began bearing fruits as the contractor, Conduril is currently working on the ground from the intake.
Once completed, the program is expected to see more families, especially in the western part of Chikwawa, benefiting through growing of cash crops among others.
