Kitapalimwa and Mkwawa

Today we had a double header.  Our first stop was at a preaching point of Kitapalimwa, which is a 30 minute drive from Iringa on the Mkwawa road.

Kitapalimwa has already registered as a group.  Registering as a group is very limiting for the members so we are helping them change to a SACCOS.  This was our first visit to Kitapalimwa.  Itiweni and Peter have been her before, but we have not. 

We arrived at the small church at about 9:30 in the morning.  They are building a larger church next to their old one, with the idea that this preaching point may become a separate church in the future.  When we got there we found the pastor and several members waiting for us.  We stopped to take a look at the crops.  This is an old tobacco growing area.  Like many such areas the soil has been depleted.  Now the main crops that the parish members grow are maize and tomatoes.  The parish has about 300 families in it.  Their average income is about 5-600,000 TZS per year (about $300) – pretty typical for a rural village.

After having chai we went into the church for our meeting.  This SACCOS currently has 37 members.  There are another 10 members in the process of joining – so the SACCOS will be reaching about 280 people (family size is 6).  Of the 37 members, 20 were here this morning for our presentation.

Following greetings and introductions Enock, who was with us today, talked about the steps to register their SACCOS, their rights and obligations, and what their constitution says.  Peter then talked about the differences between a SACCOS and a group.  Since this SACCOS is just now forming they have not yet given out loans – so we did not stop to do any interviews.

So far on this visit we haven’t met a lot of children coming to peak at the wazungus.  But today Tom spied some children and was in his element handing out candy as more and more children appeared. 

Our second stop was at Mkwawa.  Mkwawa is a large parish located on the edge of town.  Since it is in Iringa proper  the incomes here are higher, with many of the people having regular jobs in addition to their shambas (farms).  Because this was Saturday many of the SACCOS members were out at their farms for the day. 

Arriving at Mkwawa we were met by some old friends.  We have been here many times before and know Pastor Askali, the officers, and some of the members.  Mkwawa is working on a large new church, which, when completed, will hold 800 to 1000 people. 

After looking at the new church and visiting with the pastor in his office, we went over to meet with some members.  Mkwawa SACCOS has 45 members with 5 new members in the process of joining.  There were 20 of them here this morning to meet with us.  Since this SACCOS has been up and running for awhile we did not need to review the basics like we did at Kitapalimwa – so we spent our time explaining how Iringa Hope Joint SACCOS works.  There were a lot of good questions.  One of the board members of the Iringa Hope Joint SACCOS board is a member here, and he answered some of the questions.  We reminded everyone that they owned the Joint SACCOS and were entitled to know anything they wanted regarding the operations of the organization.

After the meeting Tom talked with the officers while Sandy interviewed some members.  This SACCOS made 22 loans last year.  Their average loan was $800-higher than a more rural area, and most members were borrowing for their farming activities. They had 100% repayment and earned a profit of $1,500.  They also have higher savings per member.

The first member Sandy interviewed was Piti Sovelo, 53 years old and married with 6 children.  He has been a member of the Mkwawa SACCOS for 3 years and has taken out 2 loans.  He took out his first loan last year for $380.  He used this to plant and fertilize a field of maize and tomatoes.  Maize prices last year were very low and his tomatoes did poorly so after paying off his loan he only earned a profit of $280.  He used some of this loan to increase his savings and this year he borrowed $560 for planting tomatoes.  The weather has been very good for tomatoes so far, so he is very optimistic about his profits.

The next person that Sandy interviewed was Upendo Sovelo.  Upendo is 49 and has 4 children.  Two years ago her husband went to Dar es Salaam and she hasn’t seen him since.  Now she is supporting 3 of her children (one is older and has left home) and 1 of her grandchildren.  She has belonged to this SACCOS for 5 years and has taken out 3 loans.  Two years ago she took out a loan for $120.  She used this to buy a cow.  When the cow had a calf, she gave the calf to the church as a tithe.  She sold about $140 worth of milk, and when the cow quit producing milk she sold it for $280.  She then bought another cow for $200, which is due to calve in March.  She has now borrowed $125 to buy a pump to irrigate her vegetable and tomato fields.  She told us that during the rainy season (now) her vegetables sell for a small amount – but during the dry season when she will use her pump, the vegetables should bring a higher price.  So far she has sold enough vegetables to pay for her pump.  She thinks that by year end she will have earned many times what she spent.

The people we meet and talk with continue to impress us with their ingenuity and their ability to raise their standard of living with the gift of a small loan.  

We met at a preaching point of Kitapalimwa.  They are building a larger church behind the old in anticipation of this becoming a separate parish.

We went over to look at the crops.  This used to be prime a tobacco growing area.  With depletion of the soil tobacco has become unprofitable here.  Our members grow mainly maize and tomatoes.

Enock was with us today.  He explained to the members the differences between a group and a SACCOS.

Tom found some children and gave them candy.  

At Mkwawa we met many old friends.

After meeting with the SACCOS Sandy and Enock interviewed some members.

The first member Sandy interviewed was Piti Sovelo, 53 years old and married with 6 children.  He has been a member of the Mkwawa SACCOS for 3 years and has taken out 2 loans. 

The next person that Sandy interviewed was Upendo Sovelo.  Upendo is 49 and has 4 children.  Two years ago she lost her husband.