Everlasting Life Ministries has handed over houses to the less privileged in Zomba and Thyolo as one way of improving their livelihoods.

Speaking after the handover, Zomba District Commissioner Emmanuel Bambe hailed the ministry for reaching out to the needy.

Bambe said the initiative is complementing the Descent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (DAHSP) which government is currently implementing.

“This is a very welcome development and to the beneficiaries I ask them to take good care of the houses,” he said.

Bambe said it is a pity that other churches seek donations from outside the country in the name of helping the poor but they end up using the money for personal benefits.

In his remarks founder for Everlasting Life Ministries, Apostle James Chikopa said the donation was part of ensuring their mission of helping the less privileged.

Apostle Chikopa said he was happy that the communities accepted them and they are now slowly fulfilling their mission.

He further thanked their partners from the America who helped them to fulfill their plans.

One of the beneficiaries, Lydia Shaibu, who earns her living from selling firewood, thanked the church for the assistance.

“I could not afford to build a house. This was one of my needs since I was facing challenges during the rainy season,” Shaibu, a mother of seven, said.

Everlasting Life Ministries has built six houses in Zomba and two in Thyolo.

The church has a care centre in Zomba which is home to 33 children.