Lulanzi

We first visited Lulanzi in 2008 with our friend Pastor Alec Mahange.  Alec lived with us for a month several years ago during his year of study and work in America.  Lulanzi is Alec’s home village.  During our 2008 visit to Iringa we went there with Alec and his family on a Sunday.  Alec asked Tom to give the sermon that day, and Sandra struggled as she honored Alec’s request to read the gospel lesson in Swahili.  After church that day a large group gathered at the pastor’s house for dinner and they were very interested in hearing about SACCOS.  They were enthusiastic, but didn’t have the knowledge or leadership to establish one on their own.  This year they have been in touch with Itiweni and Peter for help to organize a SACCOS.

Lulanzi is the highest village in the Iringa district, an 80 minute drive from Iringa.  The last half hour is on some of the most rutted roads we have been on.  The ruts in this road are, without exaggeration, up to two feet deep.  Tom was afraid that if we fell into these ruts even our 4 wheel drive wouldn’t be enough to get us out.

Fortunately, we made it to Lulanzi without a hitch.  The Pastor, the acting SACCOS chairman, and a few others met us at the door to the church.  We were invited to the Pastor’s home for chai.  During chai we met retired pastor, Tuluweni Gevile.  He remembers our last visit here and is glad to see us.  Pastor Gavile is now 75 years old and still pretty spry.  He tells us about the days that he was a “bush school teacher.”  During the British rule, which ended in the 60’s, the only education that people were given was a two year course aimed at teaching them to read followed by four years of elementary school.    Completing elementary school qualified one to teach bush school, which is what Gavile had done. When the British left he went to a normal school (a two year teacher’s college), then after teaching for a few years he went to seminary and was ordained as a pastor in 1987.  His son is now Dean at Cathedral and one of the key people at the Diocese headquarters.

When we started talking about SACCCOS we were told that the villagers have heard SACCOS success stories from the surrounding areas where they have been started.  Many of the people here have relatives who belong to these and keep telling them about all of the things that are happening in their villages. 

Following chai the meeting started at the church.  57 people attended the meeting.  It is clear that this group has really studied the issues.  They asked about interest rates, terms, length of loans, who decides what, can they buy as many shares as they want in the SACCOS, etc.  We were really impressed by the questions.

As we left the meeting the people who had gathered continued with the organization process.  As we were leaving we asked the Pastor what had been the catalyst to get this group interested in a SACCOS.  He told us that everyone in the village has seen how the CVP plot produces better yields, but no one in Lulanzi can afford to buy the fertilizer and improved seed.  This, of course, frustrates people and leaves them feeling that their situation in hopeless.  They feel a SACCOS is very important to their future.

Coming up to Lulanzi you have a good view of the village.

The road in places seems more like a trail.

We were greeted at the church and invited to have chai while the members gathered.

Retired Pastor Gevile recalled our first visit here.

There were at least 60 people who showed up for the meeting.

There were lost of questions.  This man wanted to know what the interest rates would be and how long the loans were for.  "It does not help the farmers to lend for 3 months." He told us.  We explained that is up to the SACCOS but most use 6-8 months for crop loans.

Tom had given some of the children candy.  These two sneaked up front to see if they could get some more.

We headed back towards town and Kilolo.