At Mwatasi

Today we were Mwatasi, a village we last visited in 2012.  That year there was a small group of 28 who were very interested in forming a SACCOS.  We had briefed them on what was needed and left them to work. 

During the last year Peter had visited them twice to give them more information and check on things.  Their main problem has been trying to gather the 5,000,000 TZS ($3,500) in capital they need to get registered.  When we visited them in 2012 we offered to pay the costs and fees for them but that still left the $3,500 in capital they needed.  After saving for 2 years they have now collected 1,300,000 TZS (about $850). 

Mwatasi is a long drive past Pommerin, on winding roads.  The drive takes a little over 2 hours.

When we got  to Mwatasi we found an old friend.  Pastor Ernesto Chaula has been here about 4 months.  He was an evangelist at Ihemi for several years before being ordained as a Pastor.  He was very happy to see us as we were to see him.

Over chai, Pastor Chaula told us that this group has been struggling to collect money.  They now have 29 members with another 20 or so waiting to see what happens.  Apparently there was another SACCOS here.  It folded up and left town and they don’t know why.  As a result people are a bit afraid of putting their money in this SACCOS.

Following chai we went over to the meeting.  Once in the meeting  we went through introductions.  The chairman told us that most of the members are here because they have seen how to increase their crop yields, but don’t have the money to do this.  He went on to say that the average income of this groups is below the normal $300-350 for Mwtasi.

Sandy got up and talked a little about our radio show on radio Furaha and presented the “Iringa Hope” pens.  Peter discussed the need to raise 5,000,000 TZS to register and get started.   We told them that if they can raise 1,800,000 TZS we will find the rest for them.   (That means that we need to find another $2,000 for this SACCOS.)  As you might guess the tenor of the meeting changed.  The chairman told us that they were hoping to get to 50 members and maybe 2,000,000 TZS by the end of the year, but that with this offer they hope to have 1,800,000 TZS and 50 members by next month, which means we need to hurry to find our part.

As the meeting broke up Elida Mpogole came up and was interviewed by Sandy.  Elida is 55, widowed, and the mother of 4 grown children, who supports two grandchildren.  She told us that she really wants a SACCOS here so she can improve her farm.  She has 6 acres and needs to borrow so that she can plant.  If she can borrow $600 to plant peas she will earn $600 for the year (it is cooler here and the land is hilly and not as good as other places so the yields are lower and the profits lower).  She says that if she can’t get a loan she will plant using left over seed and no fertilizer.  If she does this she will be lucky to earn $200 from her peas.

As we left Itiweni told us that she thinks that she can get a certificate for them to get a bank account.  That way they can open an account and start working sooner.  

It is a 2.5 hour drive to Mwatasi.

We found an old friend from Ihemi was now the pastor there.

We talked about the Mwtasi SACCOS effort over chai.

Sandy decided to hand out candy along with the pens.

The children that Tom had given candy to earlier saw her and came in for more.

After the meeting Elida Mpogole came up and was interviewed by Sandy.

 Elida is 55, widowed, and the mother of 4 grown children, who supports two grandchildren.  She told us that she really wants a SACCOS here so she can improve her farm.

A long way back to Iringa, still it is a pretty drive.