Conditional Cash Transfer Beneficiaries Cry Foul over Unpaid Wages

By Luciano Milala

Some people who are working in the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme in Mchinji have complained that the district council has not yet paid them their money but their names were marked as if they were paid.

The Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme is the government initiative where by people work for twelve days for MK300 daily on different projects ranging from road maintenance and afforastation aimed at eradicating poverty among the rural communities who are ultra poor.

The concerned people in most areas across the district claim that the Mchinji Council official who came to their areas to pay them their twelve-day wages in the only read out few names and others were left out.

Speaking to Mudziwathu on condition of anonymity one of the villagers who took part on maintenance of Chitumbira to Njere earth road in the area of Traditional Authority M’duwa in Mchinji said they were overwhelmed upon being shown the signatures against their names indicating they had received their money despite being sent back on the pay day.

Some of the concerned people stormed to the District Council Offices to claim their money on Monday only to be told the same that there was nothing for them as their names were already marked against.

He said it was unrealistic to steal from them after tirelessly working for twelve days hoping to be relieved saying he wanted to use the money to buy maize.

Mudziwathu investigations show that the anomalies were almost across the district where people are complaining of being cheated.