The Livingstone City Council has announced the allocation of a substantial towards the Cash for Work (CFW) programme, an initiative designed to create jobs, enhance community development, and improve public infrastructure in Livingstone.
Speaking on the financial management and implementation of the CFW program, Kalumbu Mumbi, the Socio-economic Planner at the Livingstone City Council, emphasized the importance of the initiative for the local community.
“This K2 billion investment in the Cash for Work programme is a significant step towards addressing unemployment and fostering community development,” Mumbi said.
“Out of this budget, K1.8 billion will be directly allocated to payments for CFW beneficiaries.
This will provide much-needed financial support to our community members while creating jobs.”
Mumbi further explained the breakdown of the budget, noting that “K150,000 has been set aside for administrative costs.
This includes everything from community mobilization and monitoring to the procurement of necessary tools and personal protective equipment.
We want to ensure that every kwacha is used effectively to benefit our people.”
Highlighting the inclusive nature of the program, Mumbi stated,
“We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both men and women in this program. People living with disabilities will also be considered for tasks that they can perform.
We are particularly mindful of the workloads of women, disadvantaged individuals, and overburdened households. Our goal is to promote fairness in task allocation and work norms.”
Mumbi elaborated on the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, saying,
“We will focus on individuals who are not in formal employment, residing within the district, and not currently receiving benefits from other social welfare programs.
Priority will be given to those in areas with high poverty levels, both in urban and rural settings.”
Regarding the scope of work under the CFW program, Mumbi explained,
“The projects will include a range of activities such as road maintenance, garbage collection, and the construction of community infrastructure.
These efforts are designed not only to meet local needs but also to provide meaningful employment opportunities.”
Mumbi assured the public of the programme's effective management:
“Local Authorities at the ward level will oversee the implementation of the CFW programme.
We will work closely with engineers and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to ensure that all work is up to standard and that payments to beneficiaries are fair and timely.”
On the issue of payments, Mumbi said, “Each beneficiary will receive K600.00 for ten days of work each month. Payments will be made through banks and mobile platforms to ensure ease of access.
We are also putting strict accountability measures in place, with monthly expenditure reports to ensure that funds are used for their intended purposes.”
Mumbi emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “Religious leaders and community members will play a critical role in the sensitization, monitoring, and evaluation of the programme.
Their involvement is key to ensuring that the CFW initiative is implemented transparently and effectively.”
Concluding, Mumbi reaffirmed the council’s commitment to the programme:
“The Livingstone City Council is dedicated to managing the CFW program with the utmost transparency and efficiency.
We are confident that this initiative will uplift our community through meaningful employment and infrastructure development.”
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