By Nelson Gonjani:
Shelter is one of the three basic human necessities, alongside food and clothing. However, poverty continues to prevent many Malawians from accessing these essentials, compromising their well-being.
At 72, Benson Tchunguye, a breadwinner from Traditional Authority Chisinga in Kasungu District who lives with a disability, once considered owning a safe and decent home a distant dream.
He and his family spent years living in a dilapidated thatched house that offered little protection, particularly during the rainy season.
With limited financial resources and nowhere else to seek shelter, he had little choice but to endure the difficult conditions.
“Indeed, a good and safe house remains a priority and a basic necessity. I am not financially well-off, making it difficult for me to build a decent shelter that I can call home,” Tchunguye said.
He added that he often spent what little money he earned on black plastic sheets to cover the roof.
However, the sheets had to be replaced annually, placing an additional financial burden on his household.
“Without them, water would pour into the house. As a breadwinner, failing to raise money to buy new sheets each year is a genuine challenge,” he said.
Tchunguye said seven people lived in his household, including himself, his wife, children and grandchildren.
Similarly, 30-year-old Godfrey Banda, a father of two from Senior Chief Kaluluma in Kasungu District, said poverty had made it difficult for him to provide his family with decent shelter.
“Protection matters most. People who have safe shelter are better placed to contribute to community development in various ways, but poverty has made it difficult for us to enjoy the security and comfort that a decent home provides,” he said.
To address poverty among vulnerable households, the government, with support from the World Bank, introduced the Social Cash Transfer Programme in 2017.
The initiative aims to reduce poverty, increase school enrolment and improve household nutrition, targeting vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, older people, chronically ill individuals and child-headed households.
Tchunguye and Banda are among the beneficiaries who say the programme has helped improve their living conditions.
Tchunguye has invested some of the cash transfers in a small-scale business selling dried fish and tomatoes within his community.
He has used the profits to buy building materials and pay people to make bricks for his house, which is nearing completion.
“Initially, I invested the money in a small-scale business selling dried fish and tomatoes within the community so that I could grow my capital. With time, I decided to build a house.
“Using the little profit I make from the business after receiving the cash transfers, I have managed to hire people to make bricks for me. My long-awaited house is now nearing completion,” he said.
The support has also enabled Tchunguye’s household to buy goats for livestock farming, which he hopes will improve their nutrition. He has also provided his five school-going children with essential school supplies.
Banda has invested in pig farming and says the programme has helped him improve his household’s economic circumstances.
“Since I was selected as a beneficiary, I have witnessed a lot of improvements in my life. Before joining the programme, I could not afford to undertake meaningful development projects as a responsible breadwinner.
“But now, I own pigs, which I sometimes sell to raise money for food and other household necessities. Most importantly, I have managed to transform my life by constructing a decent house,” he said.
He has also expanded his small-scale business selling plastic baskets, generating additional income to support his family.
Through Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups, he has learnt to save money to support his development plans.
“The programme is life-changing. I now manage to save the little money I earn because we have been encouraged to embrace VSL groups. This has made it possible for me to build a house and own livestock,” he said.
Kasungu Principal Social Welfare Officer Given Mukisi said the programme sought to improve the well-being of vulnerable households through poverty reduction, access to education and better nutrition.
“The programme aims to eradicate poverty, create a conducive environment for children to access quality education through the provision of school essentials, and ensure good nutrition at household level,” Mukisi said.
She said monitoring visits had revealed improvements in beneficiaries’ living conditions and economic activities.
“So far, so good. When we go around communities conducting monitoring exercises, we see people transforming their lives through this programme.
“Some beneficiaries are improving their social and economic status through livestock farming, while others have constructed decent houses with iron-sheet roofs,” Mukisi said.
She added that the department provides financial literacy education to help beneficiaries manage their money responsibly.
“We always encourage them to manage the little money they receive from the government wisely. Many are making progress because they are prioritising their needs, including improving their shelter,” she said.