Magubike

On Saturday we went to Magubike, a village that lies along the road to Ruaha National Park and the village of Tungamalinga.  Just a few days ago this road was nearly impassible from the rains.  Now, although it is badly pitted and very rough, it is dry and drivable.   

The Parish where the SACCOS is located is just outside of the town of Magubike.  This small town is dominated by a few large tobacco farms.  The town has a SACCOS, but it is not open to anyone who lives outside of the town limits.  It also has a number of restrictions that make many people unable to join.  This is why we were first asked to come here and start a SACCOS.

As we drove out to Magubike Tom asked why we were going.  After we first came here and started a “group” (an early step towards a SACCOS) we discovered that the pastor wanted to make money from the SACCOS.  He had told people that the SACCOS belonged to the church and they needed to pay him a fee for it.  This scared many people and dropped the membership from 63 to 24.  This pastor was moved and another pastor was sent here, unfortunately it turned out that the new pastor was Mchungaji Chaula, a pastor we have met many times before.  He was one of the people who stole money from the SACCOS at Nyanzwa several years ago.  As we were arresting people for this someone quietly paid back what he had stolen before we got to him.  He was then sent to Isimani where he stole money from the secondary school.  From there he was sent to Mlowa, where he discouraged a SACCOS from forming.   When we visited there during his tenure he told us that the people didn’t want to “work” in a SACCOS; they were only interested in free handouts.  He hadn’t announced our visit so no one came to see us.    From there he was sent to Magubike.  We didn’t know about his appointment to Magubike until we were on our way there, and when we heard we thought there was no point in visiting as long as he was there. 

  

As it turned out, Chaula is gone and a new pastor had arrived just yesterday!  Pastor Letson Chusi greeted us upon our arrival.  He is truly a breath of fresh air!  He has come from Idunda, a small village in the mountains, where he helped them form a borrowing group.  That group has grown to 91 members.  He told us that the group has been a real blessing to the members, but he really wanted to get a SACCOS going there.  “They need training, structure, and access to savings.  They also need to get more capital and ways to grow.” 

In the one day that he has been at Magubike he has talked with a few members of this SACCOS.  They have told him that their SACCOS has been very important for them and they would like to see it grow.  He would like to see it as well, “All over the diocese I find people who are waiting to get things for free,” he told us.  “People say why should they work and get clean water?  Someone will come and give it to them for free.  Why should they work and save to send their children to school.  Someone will come and send them for free.  Everyone wants to wait to get it for free.  This is not good.  Here in a SACCOS everyone wants to work and do better and better.  This is good.”  (This quote was translated into English by Peter.)  With encouragement from Pastor Chusi this SACCOS now has a chance to flourish.

At the general meeting Peter gave a class focusing on developing and growing a successful SACCOS.  The group was attentive and raised many questions that Peter answered for them. 

After the meeting Sandy and Peter spoke with Jorim Mgunda, 36 and single with no children.  He has taken out 3 loans so far.  For his second loan he borrowed $100 to farm tomatoes (1/2 acre) and corn (1/2 acre).  His tomatoes did very well but his corn failed due to the drought, yielding only enough for his own consumption.  From his successful tomato crop he earned $125 after paying back his loan and deducting all of his expenses.  He has now borrowed $150 to plant this year.  He increased acreage for his tomatoes to one acre, and again planted ½ acre of maize.  His crops look good this year, so he’s hopeful that he will have a good harvest.  He has purchased land on which to build a house with his profits.

Our second interview was with Edina Matagi, a 46 year old widow with 6 children and 5 grandchildren.  She too has taken out 3 loans.   Her second loan was for $150.  She used that loan to plant 1 acre each of beans, corn, and tomatoes.  Her children came home to help her with field work.  She also hired 1 man to work part time with her.  Her land is near water so she did not suffer from the drought.  As a result she earned a profit of $1,600 from her crops!  She proudly told Sandy, “Without this SACCOS I would not have earned this much.” She was able to pay all of the school fees for her children, save some money, and help one of her grown children go to college.   This year she has again borrowed for her farm and expects a good harvest.

Despite having pastors who wanted to get money from the SACCOS and one who tried to disrupt the operations, the members have steadily given loans, collected 100% of all sums, and grown their capital. They may not have been able to recruit new members, but it seems that the ones they have are well informed, dedicated and reliable. 

On Sunday we are off to Ihemi, our partner parish and a place we have been to many times.  We have been going there for 15 years so we look forward to seeing many old friends.  

Pastor Letson Chusi greeted us upon our arrival.  He is truly a breath of fresh air!

The pastor's son came to see us and got a candy.

Pastor Chusi came from the village of Idunda.  His last congregation has formed a group of 91 people who would like to have a SACCOS.

Peter had lots of good questions today.  This is a new member who wanted to know how loans worked.

After the meeting Sandy and Peter spoke with Jorim Mgunda, 36 and single with no children.  He has taken out 3 loans so far. 

Sandy also talked with Edina Matagi, a 46 year old widow with 6 children and 5 grandchildren.

She has taken out 3 loans.  With her latest profits she was able to send all of her children to school including one grown child in college.