Mzuzu SLG’s impress NLGFC Board

The Board of Directors of the National Local Government Finance Committee has commended
COMSIP groups formed under Covid - 19 Urban Cash Intervention - CUCI response for being
resilient and staying the course to end extreme poverty.
Deputy Board Chairperson Ms Lillian Khofi made the commendation in Mzuzu recently when
the board visited COMSIP savings and loan groups formed under - CUCI and the recently
formed under the Livelihood Restoration for Urban Poor - LIRUP in Chiputula and Chibanja
wards respectively.
Khofi said it was encouraging that CUCI groups are still in existence and its members can still
tell stories of how the program continues to transform their livelihoods.
She said “this is the reason social protection programs exist and as the board of the Implementing
Unit of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project and CUCI we have been encouraged
to do more.”
Before meeting group members in Chiputula, the board members visited businesses of a selected
few members whose businesses were started by the project.
In his remarks in Chibanja, block leader V. Banda commended the board for the visit saying it is
going to encourage members of beneficiary groups.
Describing urban poverty as a vice, Banda however, asked the board to increase beneficiary
households in the next circle so that those that were left out can benefit.
“Some of those that joined COMSIP groups did not benefit this round, next time please consider
a bigger number so that we can walk in this journey to end poverty on an equal footing” he
implored.
Chibanja ward COMSIP members then gifted the Deputy Board Chairperson a wooden stick and
spoon, symbolizing the need to steer the beneficiary pot and serve more beneficiaries in the next
round of LIRUP.