Communities in the area of Traditional Authority M’bwana in Nkhata Bay have constructed stone bunds surrounding Nthezulu Mountain under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSE-PWP) to control crops and homes from floods during the forthcoming rainy season.
Ackim Wana, a participant of the programme from Sasasa catchment, said every year the community experiences floods resulting from uncontrolled running water from up the mountain but that will be history.
Another participant of the programme, Sophie Chidazi, 64, said the stone bunds will not only control floods but also help to reclaim the lost glory of the soil.
According to Chidazi other actitivies community members are doing through the programme to conserve the environment includes natural tree regeneration, gully reclamation, brush wood and making swales.
In his remarks, CSE-PWP District Programmes Facilitator, Edward Ngwemba, said he was impressed to see that almost all 14 catchements of the programe are registering successes.
According to Ngwemba, the government has increased the number of participants in Nkhata Bay from 11,233 to 15 418 and they are getting K48 000.00 after working for 30 days.
The CS-EPWP is a major component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project which was established to promote rehabilitation of degraded micro-watersheds and restore natural resources being implemented across the country through the National Local Government Finance with support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World.
By Chisomo Kambandanga, MANA
