Seal loopholes in social cash transfer scheme – Chief Chikwanda
GOVERNMENT should put stringent measures to seal loopholes in the management and disbursement of the social cash transfer to avoid embezzlement of the funds, Chief Chikwanda of the Bemba- speaking people has advised.
Chief Chikwanda said Government should identify loopholes in the manner the funds were been handled and ensure that only those that qualify benefitted from the social cash transfer.
"It was totally wrong to misdirect the money meant for helping the poor to other areas and led to mistrust between donors and government; resulting in the withholding of funding by the cooperating partners," he said.
Chief Chiwanada said the traditional leadership was happy with the government assurance that donors that had suspended support to the social cash transfer had resumed funding, therefore it was important that measures are put in place to avoid what transpired where money meant for the vulnerable was misdirected.
“Since the donors have given us a second thought, I urge Government and the line ministry to put up measures aimed at ensuring that the funds set aside for the vulnerable are not abused by those mandated to look into the affairs of the less privileged in society,” he said.
He advised Government to ensure the money allocated for the social cash transfer must be restricted to the program and not misdirected to other needy areas as that had potential to create suspicion from cooperating partners.
“We know that there was some misunderstanding between Government and the donors, and that could have come about because the money meant for social cash transfer was directed to other needy areas,” he said.
Chief Chikwanda also appealed to Government to involve chiefs and the church when identifying beneficiaries under the social cash transfer to avoid leaving behind the most valuable people that require help like the aged and widows.
In 2018 Britain and Finland froze funding to Zambia on suspicion that the $4 million they channeled into a social welfare scheme may have been misused.