Foundation for Community and Capacity Development (FOCCAD) in collaboration with Youthnet and Counseling (YONECO) have recovered K724,400 which chiefs snatched from beneficiaries of a humanitarian response program they implemented in Dedza during 2020/21 lean season.
Speaking during Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) exist meeting on Friday, Project Officer for YONECO in Dedza, Richard Nkhonjera said the cash had been recovered through a program called complaints and feedback mechanisms ( CFRMs).
He said the money had been recovered in the area of Traditional Authorities (T/A) Kachere, Tambala, Chilikumwendo and Kachindamoto and that they are still in the process of recovering the remaining K649,500.
“What we have learnt is that chiefs were snatching cash from the beneficiaries on the pretext of sharing to community members who were not on the list of the beneficiaries and ended up not sharing the money as expected,” Nkhonjera said.
He added that chiefs also wanted to benefit from the Lean Season Response through ghost beneficiaries.
He said that all the recovered cash has been handed over to the beneficiaries of the program and all the concerned chiefs have been reported to the office of the Director of Administration of Dedza District Council for further action.
According to FOCCAD District Coordinator for Dedza, Angella Wakhutamoyo, FOCCAD was directly implementing the Lean Season Response Cash based transfer to 26,653 households under eight Traditional Authorities and 1,479 households at Dedza Boma.
She said monthly cash transfer value was K23,100 equivalent to the food basket of 50 Kg bag of Maize, 10kgs pulses and 2 litres cooking oil based on the prevailing market prices.
“A total amount of MK46, 200 was given as once off ration for the month of February and March,” she added.
She however, said 28,105 households were served against the total caseload of 28,132 households.
2020 MVAC report projected that a total population of 119,938 were affected in Dedza and needed assistance for two months from February to March 2021.
