By Aubrey Kashoni

Thyolo, Mana: Implementation of the United Beneficiary Register (UBR) in Thyolo District has been delayed due to misconceptions by some community members that it is satanic and that those registered will be put a mark of 666 as it is said of end days in the Bible.

Thyolo District Commissioner, Douglas Moffat said this in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday that enumerators have had to go back to such areas after the office and local leader intervened.

“We do not know how and from where such stories originate yet we as a council are excited about the UBR since it will address the major challenges that we used to face in the implementation of social protection programmes like repetitions of beneficiaries, missing out of eligible persons and delays due to registration processes,” he said.

The UBR, which commenced in May and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2022 in Thyolo, is a database of people living in the district as an instrument for identifying and categorizing households based on socioeconomic data.

Moffat revealed that there were already some programmes like the Social Cash Transfer and Climate Smart Public Works that were waiting for the UBR data to commence.

“It is advisable that each and every household must be registered so that they are not missed out in programmes,” Moffat said.

He said that they are working with religious and traditional leaders as well as politicians to encourage people in their areas and communities to register their names.

A woman from Traditional Authority (TA) Ngolongoliwa, Linda Kapako advised people in the area to disregard rumours which other people are creating to discredit the UBR programme.

Group Village Head Samu from TA Ngolongoliwa, James Maxwell acknowledged the importance of the UBR programme.

“It is retrogressive to say UBR programme is satanic. I encourage all people to register with the aim of benefitting from government programmes easily,” he said.

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