SALIMA (MaraviPost)—Economic status for communities in Salima North West constituency particularly at Traditional Authority (T.A) Khombedza is expected to improve following their lawmaker Dr. Jessie Kabwira’s launch of goat initiative.According to Kabwira, the initiative a coping mechanism on the floods that hit the area in last growing season which left hundreds of families homeless as their properties were washed away.
The goat initiative is also aimed at empowering constituents economically whereas goats will be used as a source of income and food.
With support from Dr. Kabwira’s friends and Malawi Congress Party (MCP)’ supporters in the diaspora particularly in the USA, the program has catered for over 30 families with goats as pilot phase and is expecting to roll out in the entire constituency soon.
Speaking to The Maravi Post on Sunday after handing over the goats to the constituents, Kabwira who is MCP Spokesperson said the initiative is aimed at giving hope to the homeless communities whose dreams were shuttered due to adverse effects of the floods.
The legislator Kabwira hinted that the initiative was not political saying all deserving families will benefit regardless of their differences in political or religion affiliations in the area.
She therefore pledged to the constituents that she will also introduce community savings banks which she claimed will provide them with access to soft loans.
“We want our community to be economically empowered with proceeds from the initiative. Giving constituents’ cash isn’t way to alleviate their daily social-economic huddles facing but rather provide them with something which is sustainable.
“The initiative is purely for the people of Salima North West Constituency regardless of their differences on political, region and tribe affiliations. Families should be able to send their children to school with proceeds from the initiative.
“We are therefore grateful to MCP supporters in the diaspora who responded quickly to an appeal made after communities were ransacked with floods, dry spells. I am still appealing to other friends and well-wishers to come forward with any help on hunger stricken families,” said Kabwira.
Sofati Shisha, one of the initiative’s beneficiaries of Group Village Headman Chimonjo told The Maravi Post that the program was timely considering the tough time communities were going through as the result of the floods.
Shisha praised his legislator for the wise and dynamic leadership demonstrating to constituents with programs which are sustainable on their well-being.