By SANDRA CHUUNGU
Francis Makala,a 39- year old visually impaired man from Kaleya Station in Mazabuka District, has expressed gratitude to the government for supporting him through the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) program. 
Makala, who receives K1,200 from the SCT, explained that life was challenging before the program came to his aid but now has provided him with a vital source of income, enabling him to feed his family, raise chickens, and send his children to school.
Makala has urged other visually impaired persons to register with the Community Welfare Assistance Committee (CWAC) so they too can benefit from the national cake.
And Beauty Hamwenda, the Mazabuka District Coordinator for the Zambia National Association for Persons with Disabilities (ZANAPD), emphasized her office’s efforts to ensure inclusivity in government programs.
Hamwenda states that her office is working with organizations representing the disabled to ensure everyone benefits from initiatives like the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to form clubs in order to access government programs.
Meanwhile the Zambia National Federation of the Blind has applauded the government for increasing SCT allocations to visually impaired persons.
Federation Vice President for Administration, Lazarus Hakalebula, revealed that over 500 000 disabled people are now benefiting from the program across the country.
He observes that these changes are making a real difference in our communities.
And Mazabuka District Commissioner Oliver Mulomba reiterated the government’s dedication to improving the lives of disabled citizens.
He called on CWAC to expedite the registration of unregistered individuals in the district.
He further states the government remains committed to ensuring no one is left behind.
The SCT program continues to play a pivotal role in empowering vulnerable groups, providing financial stability, and promoting inclusivity in Zambia’s development agenda.
