Maravi

(TIMES) ‘Banda wasn’t campaigning’

‘Banda wasn’t campaigning’
By Times Reporter

THE Government has said hand over of food by acting President, Rupiah Banda to people of Eastern Province is not a campaign gimmick but an on-going arrangement to assist the vulnerable under the Social Cash Transfer Scheme.

Community Development and Social Services Minister, Catherine Namugala said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that under the scheme, the Government has the obligation to provide cash, food, clothing and educational support to the vulnerable.

“This is not a campaign programme. We cannot stop Government programmes simply because of an election. In fact, at the end of September these vulnerable people living at Vulamukoko will get K60, 000 each as cash transfer,” Ms Namugala said.

She regretted that the media had decided to give negative publicity to the well-intended programme. During this time that the various presidential aspirants are campaigning for the presidency, Ms Namugala said that the media should be objective in their reporting.

“The programme for the acting president included a visit to Vulamukoko to meet some of the beneficiaries of the Katete scheme who are currently 4,711 in number. The idea was to highlight the scheme and not as has been publicised.

“It is unfortunate that even the speech by the acting president highlighting the intention of the Government to scale up this important programme has been overshadowed,” she said.

With or without the impending presidential elections, Ms Namugala said that the Government had a duty to assist the vulnerable in society through the Social Cash Transfer scheme.

She said more than K10 billion was budgeted for the social cash transfer scheme in the 2008 Budget and the vulnerable should not wait for the elections before they could meet their basic needs.

“This programme was launched in 2004 and it has proved to be beneficial to the recipients because their lives have changed. Just ask anyone of them and they will tell you,” Ms Namugala said.

The minister said as a result of the vulnerable aged and handicapped getting K60, 000 and other material support every month, they were able to send their children to school. “They are also able to buy nutritious food,” the minister said.

“I wish to appeal to the media houses to uphold their professional ethics and report fairly regardless of who their preferred candidate is in an election. References such as “Sugar Daddy” to an acting head of State cannot be attributed to freedom of the Press,” she said.

Labels: CORRUPTION, ENOCH KAVINDELE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:20 PM