The pilot Enhanced Public Works Programme (EPWP) is helping people from Traditional Authority (TA) Mwase create assets for both the community and individuals.

The interventions under the programme include afforestation and land resource management where the communities have planted trees that they hope to turn into community forests apart from conserving soil which will help in more crop yields.

Foreman supervising the public works activities in the catchment area Patroba Chinyanga said the area is set to have a community forest with the trees that have been planted in bare areas.

We have planted about 15 thousand trees that have all done well. We have different varieties like Nkunkhu, Ntangatanga, Nthethe and Nsangu and in the end we are hopeful that the community will have a big forest, said Chinyanga.

Through working in the sub projects of the EPWP beneficiaries are paid some money which some have also tried to gather assets for their households.

Patricia Zimba, of Feza village who together with her husband look after 12 children and survive on small scale business, decided to buy a pig which she hopes will multiply.

I decided to buy a pig from the money I earned after working in the public works programme. I am hopeful the pig will help me make money after it gives birth, said Zimba.

The assets created gives hope to community to produce tangible resources for future use according to Kasungu EPWP liaison officer Kingster Kathumba.

The implementation of EPWP sub projects in all catchments gives hope of creating more quality assets within a short period of time, said Kathumba.

Kasungu has five catchments under EPWP in Chankhanga, Mphazi, Katcherekhwanya, Chatalala and Mpherere.

National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) is implementing the pilot climate smart EPWP in Kasungu, Lilongwe, Dowa, Nkhotakota, Karonga, Chitipa, Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Balaka and Phalombe.