A minimum of 172,000 low income households have been targeted to receive mobile money payments of K35,000 for the next 6 months, as a means to cushion the cost of living amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

President Arthur Peter Mutharika announced the development during a 15 minute update, as he addressed the nation on the new measures of the pandemic, which involved the restructure of the Special Cabinet Committee.

Mutharika said the extended cash transfer facility is aimed at supporting Malawians who depend on the markets for their survival. Some of the households that are beneficiaries of the funds are based in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba.

“The program will be implemented for a period of six months translating into 3 months of response and 3 months of recovery. Each identified household will be paid electronically through mobile payments K35,000 per month and the amount is based on the prevailing Government minimum wage rate,” he said.

The program, according to the leader, will be in effect from the month end of May.