Malawi warns against fraud in public works cash transfers

Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Wednesday said Malawi Government will take to task any officer found to have fraudulently benefited from the K10.67 billion (about $42.7 million) which World Bank has provided for the Public Works Programme.

Augustine Mtendere said this at a press conference in Lilongwe where he announced that district councils in the country are expected to roll out implementation of the first phase of the programme by September 17 this year.

“We would like to ask all those involved in the programme to be diligent and honest so that the intended beneficiaries are reached. Sometimes, it happens that government puts in place a programme like this one but somewhere things end up in the air.

“We do not want to see that some Dado [District Agricultural Development Officer] is benefiting from this. We want this money to reach the very poor and marginalised,” said Mtendere.

He said after implementing the programme’s first phase between September and December to enable targeted households to buy food and subsidised farm inputs, government will run the second phase between April and May to enable the households to save and invest.

“The cash incomes to be earned in the second cycle are expected to mainly go towards savings and investment to facilitate long term household recovery initiatives. After harvesting their crops next year, we want them to still have some source of income so that they don’t sell their harvests and assets,” said Mtendere.