Comsip turns beggar into entrepreneur
Masautso Chikuse used to beg for alms in his wheelchair at the Paul Kagame junction near the Lilongwe Hotel, until 2006 when he was introduced to the Community Savings and Investment Promotion (Comsip).
“I used to beg every day from 2004 because it was difficult for my family to look after me since I was born without limbs. I used to blame God for bringing me into this world without limbs, but I did not know that one day he would smile at me and open new doors,” says Masautso Chikuse with a wide grin at Sankhani 2 Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Njewa in Lilongwe recently.
Chikuse says that one day in 2006 during his routine alms begging excursions, he met a man from his home village who told him that he was just wasting time by begging instead of going back home to join a group of people who were changing their lives through community savings.
The group that Chikuse joined was set up in April 2005 and the members underwent training by officials from Comsip in how to mange savings.
Comsip is taking a leading role in empowering Malawians to embrace a culture of saving.
Chikuse decided to return to his home village and with some of the savings, he bought clothes and some food to help him settle down .
“In the village, I was being assisted by some well-wishers, but I was never happy because some could say bad things before giving you alms,” says Chikuse.
He says that one day, some people gave him K1 000 ($2.50) and he decided to join the Mpita Comsip Cooperative where he paid K500 as an entry fee and also bought shares worth K500 (about $1.25).
In 2007, when he had about K5 000 (about $12.50) shares he borrowed K10 000 (about $25) and started selling salt.
After a while, he borrowed K20 000 (about $50) which he used to buy a camera which completely changed his life.
“Even though I had difficulties with mobility, I started photography to the extent that six months later, I opened a grocery from the profits made.
My shop is one of the most popular shops in this village maybe because people wonder how a man who used to beg can become a shop owner,” says Chikuse.
He says that some beggars who scorned him for leaving the streets are amazed at his transformation.
Apart from the shop, Chikuse has got a beautiful house; he rears chickens, goats, pigeons, and he plans to buy pigs later in the year.
His main ambition is to buy a car next year after selling his agricultural produce.
“I am a very hard-working man and through Comsip I have made my life more comfortable. Every year when we share the profits made, I invest the money in farming,” says Chikuse.
