By Austine Patrice Kachilika

Mzimba, February 14, Mana: Communities under Traditional Authorities (T/A) Mzikubola and Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba have asked council authorities to improve on identification of beneficiaries for relief food under 2023/24 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme (LSFIRP).

Speaking during a beneficiary verification exercise for CERC Maize Flour Support under the 2023/2024 LSFIRP on Tuesday, Dalabo Hara from Group Village Head (GVH) Zamagumbo, T/A Mzikubola in the district said some undeserving individuals were benefiting from the programme.

“We were told that Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) is the criteria adopted for the selection of relief beneficiaries; however, some most deserving individuals were left out of the programme while others who were at least able to fend for themselves were found on the beneficiary list,” she said.

One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Kefless Gausi from GVH Magumbo under T/A Mzikubola in the district, suggested that council officials should be visiting communities to assess severity of beneficiaries’ vulnerability instead of depending entirely on the UBR system’s data.

In his remarks, District Social Welfare Officer for Mzimba South, Sebastian Mkandawire, said all recommendations will be taken into consideration to ensure smooth implementation in the upcoming relief food distribution phase.

“We also urge you to report any misconduct and provide your feedback on the programme’s progress by dialing our toll-free numbers that will be communicated to you soon as part of the programme’s grievance addressing mechanism,” said Mkanadwire.