MPULUZI NEEDY STILL WAITING FOR NDMA’S E700

MBABANE – About 50 needy residents of Mpuluzi, who were expecting to receive E700 cash each as part of the food distribution programme by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), felt snubbed by the distributors.

This follows a three-week wait by the community members without receiving the cash in their mobile money accounts, while a total of 100 others whom they registered with have received theirs.

When this publication visited the area last Saturday, most of the community members said they had nothing to put on the table.
To prove their situation, the residents showed either empty pots, while others only had cooked porridge without stew.

Cash

According to the residents, they were registered by their constituency councillors (bucopho), who told them that they would receive the cash. “We were surprised to learn that some of the residents had already received the cash while we have not received anything,” said the community members.

In an interview with Ephraim Dlamini, who is diabetic and is responsible for eight family members; he said he was relieved when the promise for assistance reached his ears. Dlamini, who said his family was now dependant on the E1 500 elderly grant he received after three months, stated that he was excited that they would be receiving additional income as the grant was not enough.

“I am still nursing hopes that I will receive something. The situation is really bad as there is nothing much that we harvested in the fields,” he said. According to Dlamini, he was constantly checking his cellphone for messages, with the hope that the money would be deposited.  He said he had been doing this since they registered their names, as they were promised that the funds would be received in a week’s time. He said there was no one employed in the family and he lost his job about eight years ago when he began suffering complications from diabetes.

Dlamini said he later lost his limb when the complications worsened last year and he had to have his left leg amputated.
Another resident who was interviewed was Goodness Zwane, who said she was having her last meal.
Zwane said the COVID-19 pandemic had directly affected and completely cut off her means of livelihood.

She said she survived through making grass mats and selling them, but due to the outbreak of the virus was forced to stop.
She noted that no one was employed in the family, adding that her husband was once employed by SAPPI Usutu, but lost his job sometime ago.

According to Zwane, the family was struggling to put food on the table and they were hoping the condition would improve when they were told about the cash.
 “We are now stranded and have nowhere to turn to as we hoped life would improve following the promise made by government to offer relief,” she said.
Also interviewed was Lucas Zwane, who also has diabetes.
He said his family survived on handouts and sometimes went to bed on an empty stomach.
Lucas said there were times when he wished he could die as a result of his situation because he used to have a garden and did not lack when he had both his feet. 
He noted that he was placed under a strict diet by doctors as a result of his diabetic situation, but could not afford it. “I do not have a choice and eat anything that I come across due to the situation I find myself in,” he said. According to Lucas, he was taking care of eight family members who all depended on his grant. He said what hurt him was that they were not receiving any feedback. “We reported the issue to bucopho and we were told they were working on the matter and that we will receive the money.”  Meanwhile, he appealed for a disability grant, following his incapability. In the same vein, Jabulani Zwane said he was also affected and was facing a tough situation as his income had been cut.

Logs

 He stated that he was in the forestry industry and survived through selling logs. Zwane said it was almost three months now not receiving any orders and that he was relieved when informed that they would be receiving the cash relief. He said he was taking care of a family of nine people and was the sole breadwinner.

When reached for comment on the matter, NDMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Russell Dlamini said community members who were registered to benefit from the cash for food money and had not yet received it should call 112 and report their concern.

Dlamini said they could also approach their constituencies or the NGO they were working with, where they could also be assisted.

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