Members of Toleza Catchment Committee (CMC) says it will leave no stone unturned and no one behind during the implementation of the Enhanced Public Works Program (EPWP).

The committee told NLGFC  in an interview that it has accommodated both the youth, middle aged as well as old people in the committee that is responsible in looking after activities and resources of EPWP.

“When we were first briefed on the project some months back, and told that there will be need for people both male and female of different ages to be in the Catchment Management Committee, we touch based and agreed that we take on all ages on board.

“We believe in the youth of this area, that is why we incorporated some of them, and there is no way a committee could be complete without the middle aged and the old as well, said Eleson Hideni one of the committee members.

“We believe that we cannot be talking of development, when the young ones are out of it, we need to instill sense of ownership in the youth so that when all of us are gone, they should take care of the initiates being done now, said Ester  Wasimbwa one of the foreman.

On her part, one of the youngest members of the committee Delifa Chisambo, said she always has passion in developmental activities in her area, and it was her wish that she is incorporated in the committee.

“ I am happy to be part of the exciting journey of bringing back the lost glory of this area through the EPWP, we have had projects coming to this area, but this particular on is so special, so many trainings, empowering the rural people themselves with responsibilities.

“This we know is challenging us so that we do not have anyone to blame if things do not materialize as expected,” she said.

According to Delifa, the area faces a lot of problems, be it drought, floods, fall army worm, just to mention a few, but with the various interventions that the project has aligned to bring to the area, she is sure that the area will be a better place tom live for the generation to come.

The Local Government Finance Committee is piloting the Enhanced Public Works EPWP in 10 districts in Malawi as a result of the environmental degradation that has contributed to poverty in many areas.

Through the EPWP various interventions to improve land degradation will be implemented which many people in the rural areas have been struggling to provide for themselves.

Story Credit: Mary Makhiringa, District Information Officer, Balaka.