The Zambian government has acknowledged delays in payments to beneficiaries under the Cash for Work programme, attributing the hold-ups to the lack of mobile network coverage in certain areas. This was revealed by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gary Nkombo, during a recent address in the National Assembly.
The Cash for Work programme, a government initiative aimed at alleviating poverty and providing temporary employment to vulnerable communities, has faced challenges due to mobile network issues. The programme has been widely implemented across various constituencies in Zambia, but beneficiaries in rural areas, in particular, have reported delays in receiving their payments.
Minister Nkombo informed the National Assembly that a total of K419 million had been disbursed to all constituencies under the programme. He further elaborated that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning had initially allocated K68.5 million to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The funds were then distributed to 123 constituencies to ensure that beneficiaries could be compensated for their work in community projects.
“Last month, I updated this August House on the implementation of the Cash for Work programme. In my statement, I highlighted among other things, the fact that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning had disbursed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development an initial amount of K68.5 million,” said Nkombo.
While the government has worked diligently to distribute the funds, the issue of mobile network connectivity has hindered timely processing of payments, especially in more remote regions where mobile signal strength is weak or nonexistent. This has led to significant delays for the intended beneficiaries who rely on mobile platforms to receive their payments.
Despite these setbacks, Nkombo assured members of the House that the Ministry is actively addressing the issue and is working with mobile service providers to improve coverage in these affected areas. The goal is to ensure that payments are processed efficiently and that no beneficiary is left behind due to technical constraints.
The Cash for Work programme, which was launched to provide short-term employment opportunities to communities while simultaneously improving local infrastructure, has faced some operational challenges from the onset. While the government has made strides in implementing the programme, including the allocation of funds, it is clear that the technological gap remains a significant hurdle.
Many Zambians, especially those in rural areas, still struggle with inconsistent mobile network access, which complicates processes like mobile money transfers and digital payments. This is a reminder of the digital divide that still exists in many parts of the country.
The programme, however, continues to be seen as an essential tool for economic upliftment and community development, as it provides participants with income while simultaneously improving infrastructure in local areas.
Minister Nkombo urged constituents to remain patient as efforts to resolve the mobile network issue progress. He assured the House that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is committed to ensuring that all beneficiaries receive their payments in due course.
