By Wadza Botomani
Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, on Thursday presided over the distribution of maize to vulnerable households in Bvumbwe, Thyolo District, as part of the government’s Lean Season Response Programme. The initiative targets 70,000 food-insecure households, including 17,000 enrolled in the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP), locally known as Mtukula Pakhomo.
Sendeza emphasized the programme’s goal of supporting the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, disabled, and labor-constrained families, while warning against misuse of resources. “This aid is a lifeline, not for sale or diversion,” she stated, urging transparency in distribution . Thyolo District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga reported smooth progress, noting the dual impact of maize aid and SCTP’s electronic cash transfers in uplifting livelihoods .
Beneficiaries like Teresa Nakali, a mother of eight, shared how SCTP’s monthly K10,000 allowance and maize rations have eased food insecurity and school expenses . The lean season response, running from October 2024 to March 2025, follows President Chakwera’s disaster declaration due to El Niño-induced hunger affecting 5.7 million Malawians .
The event highlighted synergies between immediate food relief and long-term social protection. Sendeza commended partners like the World Food Programme and donors for scaling up interventions, ensuring timely deliveries amid climate shocks .
