Kaputa Community Welfare Assistant Committee members ’embezzle’ cash

The Department of Social Welfare in Kaputa district is disturbed with reports that some Community Welfare Assistant Committees (CWACs) members are misapplying money for the vulnerable under the Social Cash Transfer.

Kaputa District Social Welfare Officer, Arcleo Kandunda, said his department has received reports from some quarters that some CWAC members are pocketing the money meant for the vulnerable in communities.

Mr Kandunda added that people have come to his office to register their disapproval of the conduct of the CWAC members.

He said the department has since taken a stance to start re-organizing the groups in order to hold fresh elections for new office bearers.

Mr Kandunda said this yesterday when Kaputa Member of Parliament, Maxas Ng’onga, held a stakeholders’ meeting at the constituency office with various Heads of Departments.

He added that government has also delayed in allocating money for the programme this year, saying a few people were also omitted in the last transfer.

The social welfare officer, however, explained that he had communicated to the head office and his superiors have since promised to address the problem.

Meanwhile, Kaputa Member of Parliament, Maxas Ng’onga, has warned that he will not tolerate people that are misapplying money meant for vulnerable people.

Mr Ng’onga said this is a serious crime and has since advised the Department of Social Welfare to identify people who could be doing this so that they are taken to court.

Kaputa is one of the poor districts in the country that are under the social cash transfer programme.