Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.

In his parliamentary address today, the President emphasized that human dignity, equity, and social justice cannot be attained without strong and inclusive social protection interventions.

The Head of State cited significant progress recorded by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in expanding social protection programmes across the country in line with this vision.

“Government has doubled the Social Cash Transfer value for vulnerable households from K200 to K400 per month. For beneficiary households that include a member living with a disability, the transfer value has been increased from K400 to K600 per month,” He said.

He added that the number of beneficiary households under the Social Cash Transfer Programme has increased from 1.3 million to 1.5 million nationwide this year alone, ensuring that more families are cushioned against extreme poverty and economic shocks.

He further highlighted that under the Food Security Pack Programme, the number of vulnerable but viable farmers supported has risen from 240,000 to 320,000 beneficiaries.

Mr. Hichilema explained that the expansion is meant to strengthen household resilience, enhances productivity, and contributes to national food security.

The Ministry remains committed to implementing effective, transparent, and accountable social protection programmes that uphold human dignity and promote sustainable livelihoods for all citizens.