Mchinji District has shifted from manual payment to electronic payment in the Social Cash Transfer Programme, commonly known as Mtukula Pakhomo.
The programme will make financial transactions by using TNM Mpamba.
Speaking during the registration of the beneficiaries into the new payment system at Guillime, District Commissioner for Mchinji, Lucia Chidalengwa, said that the new arrangement will minimize sending officers to manually disburse funds to beneficiaries.
He added that beneficiaries will no longer be exposed to theft, as they will now receive the transfers in confidence through their phones.
A beneficiary, Petulo Mkwezalamba from Njelengo Village, TA Zulu, will receive his cash transfer for the first time under the new system and welcomed the idea, saying receiving money through a cellphone is ideal as he can withdraw the cash at a time that suits him without having to rush or travel to a distant location.
Chief Social Welfare Officer responsible for the Social Cash Transfer programme, Chifundo Nanchukwa, said the transition to electronic payments is part of the government’s broader agenda to digitise all government-to-people payments.
“This will reduce non-collection of transfers and enhance financial inclusion, as beneficiaries will be using digital payment systems,” said Nanchukwa.
By Vincent Khonje, MANA
