Committee applauds Councils on EPWP preparedness

National Local Government Finance Committee has applauded councils for their preparedness on implementation of Enhanced Public Works Program (EPWP)

This was said after the committee visited 10 targeted councils to assess progress of Macro Catchment areas.

Speaking with Radio Islam, Social Development Officer under National Local Government Finance Committee, Mateso Kazembe said the pilot program aims at strengthening household resilience to shocks and creation of durable community assets unlike in its predecessor, Public Works Program (MASAF 4).

EPWP targets 1,000 participants and a maximum of 5 micro-catchments in each of the ten districts which were selected based on availability of data in the Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) and a composite index of three parameters on poverty levels, food insecurity as well as land degradation.

“The trip was aimed at verifying major projects to be carried under EPWP and both the beneficiaries and the district councils have welcomed the project” Kazembe said.

The officer explained that they will now focus on training extension workers on biological and conversation technologies as the project is said to be focusing on environmental conservation.
When asked how the corona virus has affected the EPWP activities, Kazembe said there has been a delay in the kick off of the project as it was expected to start in April 2020.

“We are a month behind schedule following the directives from government that all civil servants to work from home, however I should mention that the principle secretary in the ministry of Local Government, Charles Kalemba has written all the ten councils under the pilot phase to start their implementation preparatory activities,” added Kazembe.

In his remarks, Director of Planning and Development for Blantyre District Council, Tamanya Harawa said they are now developing village legal action plan.

He said the district has a number of projects which will be implemented under EPWP.
“Communities in the district have positively welcomed the project as it will be different from MASAF 4 project,” Harawa said.

He said they have promised to make some changes when implementing the project in the district.
“I know people are used to work as they did under the MASAF4 project, but I would like to appeal to all community members to join hands so that the projects are successful to enable it be extended to all councils in the country,” he explained.

National Local Government Committee is implementing the program on pilot phase in 10 district councils of Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Dowa, Lilongwe, Balaka, Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Blantyre.