Poverty drives Malawi women to form co-op
The Zimveke Women Cooperative was started in 2012 by 67 women who each contributed K10,000 in shares to collectively buy and sell rice.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi - Rising levels of poverty and lack of financial capacity have forced some women in Malawi's Shire Valley district of Chikwawa to form a cooperative to improve their livelihoods, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
The Zimveke Women Cooperative was started in 2012 by 67 women who each contributed K10,000 in shares to collectively buy and sell rice.
Six years later, the group received a juice making machine and refrigerator from the charity Christian Aid but lacked training on how to use the equipment.
"This was supposed to be a big boost to our activities although by then, we were not planning on venturing into juice making," said Letina Austin, chairperson of the cooperative.
The women make juice manually despite having the machine.
They buy baobab fruits from Blantyre to produce malambe juice sold locally for K400 per 250 ml bottle.
"Our main challenge is marketing. We are only able to sell within our locality," Austin said.
"If we had a vehicle, most of our challenges would be addressed."
She said the training from Christian Aid in bookkeeping, leadership and juice making helped improve the women's business management.
Austin said cooperative members can now pay school fees, buy livestock and build decent homes.
"We no longer have to worry about hunger in our homes," she said.
Village Headman Handison said before the cooperative, the women struggled to provide for their families. He said their health has improved from eating balanced meals.
"The skills imparted by Christian Aid helped change the mindset of the women who used to solely depend on their husbands," Handison said.
Christian Aid officer Maness Kamanga praised the relationship between members as key to the cooperative's success.
"There are demands from the communities to have other cooperatives," she said.