The Rains Came At Kiponzelo

Today we visited two villages.  The first one was Kiponzelo, a relatively new location that we have been to several times.  The drive there is usually a pleasant drive, about 40 minutes down the tarmac and then a 20 minute drive down a relatively good dirt road.  But that was before the rains came.

It rained overnight in Iringa, pouring down in the early morning.  This of course does not affect the drive on the tarmac, but when we turned onto the dirt road we were in for a bad surprise.  The Kiponzelo road, which was once relatively smooth and flat, is now a deeply rutted expanse of mud and water puddles.  We drive down the road taking care to stay away from the worst of things, often hugging the side of the road or doing a little off road driving.  Soon we are sliding along; unable to steer, no braking ability, and absolutely no idea how deep that next puddle was going to be.  We didn't see much traffic, but there were a few motorcyclists stopped along the side of the road trying to get their motors started again.

Tom was sure he had lost what little color was left in his hair by the time we reached our meeting.  We were met at the SACCOS office door by the Treasurer, Esterina Bangi.  She is the second treasurer, having replaced a woman who had no prior book keeping experience and struggled to keep good records.  We were invited into the office for chai and to review their records.  Tom got busy right away asking questions and looking at numbers.  He is checking the SACCOS to see how much capital they each have for their members, how much the members need for their farms, and how good a job they have been doing managing the conflicts of needs versus the available funds.

This SACCOS has grown quickly.  The membership here is 88 individuals and 2 VICOBAs.  A VICOBA is an informal group that pools their funds to make small loans to their members.  VICOBAs are popular around the world since they only make use of the funds their members are able to pay in and are therefore cheap to start.  Unfortunately they also seldom have enough funds to make a difference to their members and being unregulated suffer from a lot of graft, corruption, and theft.  These two groups have avoided the problems of graft, corruption, and theft; but have also found that the VICOBA is just not helpful in their farming.  Still, since they have been together for many years; they asked to join the SACCOS as a “group” and were told “yes.”  When you add in the 45 members of the VICOBAs to the 88 other members this SACCOS has a total of 133 – a very large group.

Last year was their first year of full operations.  During the year they made 42 loans averaging $400 each.  The loans here are for 6-9 months depending on the crops being planted.  They had a 100% repayment rate and were very happy with their results.  Having completed a good year they were eligible for a loan from Iringa Hope – so they have borrowed $15,000.  Using this together with their existing capital they will be able to service a larger portion of their members.

When we went to the general meeting the room was full.  This SACCOS is meeting in an old community building, too small for the entire membership, but still a welcome change from the rain outside.  Sandy and Tom gave a brief welcome statement.  Sandy had prepared and was able to make her statement in Swahili.  She told everyone that we have 3 children and 11 grandchildren and then passed around a Christmas photo of our family - she was clearly the star of the hour.

Peter was home with malaria today so Itiweni gave the class and we had no translator today.  (Actually Itiweni also has a “little” malaria, but she wanted to come anyway.)  She told us ahead of time that she would be telling them about the need to buy shares and increase their capital similar to talk she gave yesterday at Kitapilimwa.

When Itiweni’s class was over, the meeting continued and we returned to the office to interview a couple of the members.  The rain was really coming down again, making quite a racket on the roof.

Our first interview was with Speranzia Dallu, 50, and unmarried.  Speranzia cares for her blind mother who is about 79 years old – they weren’t quite sure.  She has been a member of this SACCOS since it began and has taken out 2 loans.  Her latest loan was for $300 for 9 months.  She has used this to help plant 2 acres of fresh corn (small cobs that are roasted).  Despite the rains she says that her crop is looking pretty good so far.  If her crop turns out like last year’s she will get enough maize to feed herself and her mother for this coming year and earn a $300+ profit.  With the prices of maize back up this year (last year the price was 50% below the normal level), she thinks that she may earn as much as $950+.  Last year she used her profits to make bricks for a new house.  It will still be small, but it will have brick walls, a metal roof, and windows and a door!  She thinks that if the price of corn remains at its current level she might be able to finish her house this year.

Next Sandy talked with Angelo Kiyeyeu, 65.  Angelo is married with 5 children and 7 grandchildren.  One of his children is still living at home along with 2 of his grandchildren.  He too has been a member of this SACCOS since it began and has taken out 2 loans.  His latest loan is for $300.  He used his loan to plant an acre of fresh corn (Note-it costs a little over $300 to plant an acre.  Some people, like Speranzia, add cash to their loan to do this.  Others, like Angelo, must borrow the full amount).  Last year he used the profits from his loan to send his youngest child to secondary school.  This year he is planning on doing the same thing.

We said good bye and headed over to where they are hoping to build a new SACCOS building.  The land that they have purchased seems a long way away from everything else, but they tell us that the government is trying to move things over there near the new secondary school.

The secondary school is very nice.  It has just opened this year.  According to Allen, the SACCOS chairman, starting this year there will be NO COST for students to go to school.  We asked Itiweni if this is true.  “Yes,” she tells us, “It is supposed to start this year, but maybe it will not happen until next year.  Still; all fees, charges, tuition, etc. will be gone from schools so that all children who work and pass their exams can go through secondary school.”  What a change that will be!

Coming tomorrow – driving through torrential rains and flooded roads to get to Ifunda, our second stop of the day.

Other years the road was pretty good.  Today it looks a bit more like a river.

First thing we had chai and talked about what was going on. 

Sandy greeted everyone in Swahili and told about our family then passed around a Christmas photo.  She was the star of the meeting!

This woman got up during the meeting to ask, "Where is our AMCOS!"  She has paid her fees and is very impatient for it to get started.

After we left the meeting Sandy and Itiweni got to talking with two members.

Speranzia Dallu is 50 years old and unmarried.  Speranzia cares for her blind mother who is about 79 years old (she is not quite sure). 

Angelo Kiyeyeu is 65, married, and has 5 children and 7 grandchildren.  One of his children is still living at home along with 2 of his grandchildren.

The members have purchased this lot to build a new home for their SACCOS.  It seems far from everything but with the opening of the new secondary school the government is encouraging people to move here.