Empowering Resilience: The Manangwonzi Savings Group in Monze, Zambia

Polite Masaka, a farmer in Monangwonzi, participates in the Manangwonzi Savings Group, transforming her life through financial empowerment. The group allows members to pool resources, provide loans, and reinvest earnings, which has enabled Polite to expand her farming operations significantly. This initiative illustrates the strength of community action against climate shocks in Zambia.

On a sunny Monday morning in Manangwonzi, Ms. Polite Masaka, a dedicated farmer and grandmother, prepares for a critical meeting at the community center. She is a member of the Manangwonzi Savings Group, which she attends biweekly. Within six months, Polite has witnessed transformative changes in her life through this community initiative.

As the group’s secretary, Polite is recognized for her cheerful and spirited demeanor, yet she maintains a strict adherence to meeting protocols. Anyone who disrupts the proceedings faces a fine, underscoring the seriousness of their gathering. “This one hour is serious business,” she states, while encouraging a focused atmosphere.

The mechanism of the Manangwonzi Savings Group is straightforward: members contribute their funds, offer loans with interest, and reinvest the profits into various projects. With a mere ZMW 20 to buy a share, members can generate significant savings. Polite has notably saved ZMW 1,360 and received ZMW 12,900 from interest during the last share-out.

Thanks to her newfound funds, Polite has expanded her farming operations to include livestock, featuring 25 chickens, 7 pigs, 6 guinea fowl, and 10 goats, which she achieved in just six months. “I always wanted to raise pigs, and now I can finally do it,” she expresses with pride.

In Monze, Zambia, communities unite to confront climate shocks through innovative savings groups. By pooling resources, they are establishing financial safety nets that empower individuals to withstand erratic weather and economic difficulties. This collaborative strategy not only fortifies community ties but also exemplifies the effectiveness of collective action in enhancing resilience against climate change impacts.

The story of Polite Masaka in Monze exemplifies the positive changes that can occur when communities come together to address climate challenges. Through the Manangwonzi Savings Group, individuals not only strengthen their financial capacity but also create robust support systems. This initiative illustrates the potential of grassroots movements in fostering resilience and adaptability in the face of environmental unpredictability.

Original Source: www.undp.org