LUSANGAZI, Zambia – 22nd April, 2026
Lusangazi Town Council has today, 22nd April 2026, successfully launched the district-wide Revised Cash for Work (R-CFW) Sensitisation Programme at a high-level meeting held at the Town Council Chamber. The event brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including traditional leaders, the District Administration, Heads of Government Departments, Ward Councillors, and other key partners, all united by a common goal: to ensure the programme reaches the truly vulnerable while safeguarding it from abuse.
The meeting was officially opened by the Council Secretary, Mr. Tembo Sekani, who declared that this was actually the second sensitisation meeting in Lusangazi. He noted that the first phase had successfully recruited and trained data entry clerks from all eleven wards, who are now ready to support the registration process. Mr. Sekani highlighted that the 2026 R-CFW is a nationwide initiative launched in January 2026 to support over 1.5 million vulnerable individuals across all 116 districts of Zambia. It provides temporary employment, paying K600 for ten days of work per month, for community projects to combat drought-induced economic hardships, focusing on citizens aged 18 to 59 who are not on other social cash transfers.
In a firm and unambiguous address, the Council Secretary laid out three hard-and-fast eligibility rules. First, no double-dipping: individuals already receiving money from other government programmes, including Social Cash Transfer or any form of food relief, are disqualified, as the registration system is linked to national databases via the National Registration Card (NRC), meaning any existing beneficiary will be automatically detected and excluded. Second, formal employment disqualifies applicants: public service workers, private sector employees, and civil society staff are not eligible, as the R-CFW is specifically for vulnerable individuals without stable income sources. Third, honesty during registration is mandatory, with community verification to be rigorous and false declarations leading to automatic disqualification and possible recovery of funds. Mr. Sekani explained that these rules are not punitive but practical, stating that because the government has limited resources, ensuring that only non-beneficiaries of other cash programmes participate will expand the reach of social protection across Lusangazi. He added, “We leave no one behind, but we also do not give twice to the same person while another goes hungry.” In a stern warning, he told all council staff and future implementors that no favouritism, no ghost workers, and no manipulation will be tolerated, as the system’s NRC-linked database is their watchdog, and any person found colluding with ineligible applicants will face disciplinary action.
In his welcoming remarks, the Council Chairperson, Mr. Blackson Selemani Tembo, warmly received all stakeholders and expressed appreciation for their presence. He underscored the importance of unity and collaboration in ensuring the success of the programme. The Chairperson further encouraged stakeholders to actively participate and support the sensitisation process, stating that the programme presents an opportunity to uplift vulnerable households and improve livelihoods across the district.
Speaking during the meeting, the District Commissioner, Ms. Margaret Chisomo Zulu, commended the Government for introducing the revised programme and stressed the need for strict adherence to implementation guidelines to avoid misunderstandings and grievances among community members. Representing the traditional leadership, Headman Masili expressed gratitude to the Government for the initiative and welcomed the improvements made to the programme. He noted that the R-CFW will greatly benefit community members, especially those affected by the poor farming season, and pledged the support of traditional leaders as the “eyes on the ground” to ensure fairness.
The Council Secretary announced that following this sensitisation meeting, officials shall on Friday meet with the Ward Development Committee (WDC) leadership and the Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs)—the people who will be the implementors on the ground, working directly with communities to ensure the R-CFW is delivered fairly and effectively. He called upon all stakeholders present—traditional leaders, district administration officials, school heads, and health facility managers, to become ambassadors of the message, explaining clearly to their communities who should stay on existing transfers and who should apply for work. The Revised Cash for Work Programme is expected to provide relief and economic support to vulnerable individuals while promoting community development through public works, including clearing roads, digging drainage channels, rehabilitating community dams, and maintaining public facilities. The Council Secretary thanked the Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, as well as cooperating partners and the people of Lusangazi for their patience and cooperation. With that, the Lusangazi District R-CFW Sensitisation Campaign was officially declared launched.