National News

Women thrive under village savings loans

 Women from Muwawani Village in Traditional Author i t y (T/A) Chimutu in Lilongwe have commended village savings and loans (VSLs) for transforming their lives.

On Saturday, Zanani Farms Management visited the women and encouraged them to be focused to realise their goals.

In her remarks, Zanani Women’s Group chairperson Rhoda Tembo hailed Zanani Farms Management for embracing a saving culture.

Tembo: We want to diversify into fish
farming. | Steven Pembamoyo

She said the women were initially working as part-time labourers on the farm and later proposed to start a group which the farm approved and supported.

Tembo said the group has since made a 600 percent profit within five months. She said the women are now planning to diversify into beekeeping and fish farming.

She said: “Zanani Farms  gave us K500 000 as a starter pack in November 2024, from which members bought shares. Through borrowing and loan repayments, the money has grown to K3.5 million as of April 30.

“Our target is to grow bigger so that members can borrow more to expand their business. To achieve that, we want to diversify into fish farming and beekeeping.”

Tembo said the group also collects fees f rom members who report late or fail to attend their weekly meetings.

Vanani Farms managing director Jacqueline Hynes said the farm has supported the women’s plans by engaging experts in fish farming and beekeeping to train them.

“They started small, but the progress they have made is encouraging. As such, we will continue supporting them whenever we are needed,” she said.

In her remark s , For Equality executive director Tadala Boti said women who support themselves financially are less prone to abuse by their partners.

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