WOMEN FEDERATIONS IN DAR ES SALAAM: PROGRESS REPORT

 

1.0        INTRODUCTION

 

This report is a summary of progress of women federations’ activities in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The reporting period is between November 2004 and mid January 2005.

 

2.0        PROGRESS OF ACTIVITIES

 

2.1       Exchange visit from Malawi and its impact

 

The team from malawi arrived on 25^th November 2004 and settled in Zamcargo

community. Objective of the visit was to share experience of women savings activities between Tanzania and Malawi and for Malawi’s to teach the Tanzania’s how to do the daily savings. While in Zamcargo the group had a meeting with women to explain the objectives of their visit and activities they are doing in Malawi especially the savings scheme. The Malawi team also explained to the women in Zamcargo their intention to assist Tanzanian women to start the savings scheme system that could enable them to join the international network, which will give them opportunity to get experiences form different parts.

 

 

2.2.      Awareness raising meetings

 

Following the arrival of the Malawi’s three awareness raising meetings were organised in three settlements ie Zamcargo, Keko Mwanga B and Kigamboni. Aim of these meetings was for the visitors to meet women savings groups in these settlements to share experiences explaining their experience on when the groups started, how they do their savings success and problems facing the groups. After the group has explained their experience the Malawi group also provided its experience trying to explain to women on how the daily savings system work, its advantages and against other systems and how is useful in bringing the women together. Below are experiences from three settlements that were visited

 

i)         Zamcargeo community (Upendo savings group)

 

The group in Zamcargo was formen in year 2002 and initially had 16 members. Entrance fee for each member was Tshs 1500 and each member had to pay monthly contribution of Tshs 1000. The group was able to collect Tshs 60,000 from entrance fees and the monthly contributions. Members decided to to use the Tshs 60,000 as capital for establishing khanga business whereby they bought Khanga and each member had to buy the Khanga on credit at Tshs 3500.  By doing the Khanga business the group was able to collect Tshs 120,000 and they opend a bank account to keep the money. Through the selling of Khanga and other petty business the group until Nov 2004 had 168,000 in their bank account.

 

Problems facing Zamcargo group

 

Problems of paying the monthly contributions – it has been very difficult for most of the members to pay the Tshs 1000 monthly contributions

 

ii)                  Keko Mwanga B (Changamkeni women group)

 

The group was formed in 2002 by 28 members but most of the members are not active. Each member had to pay an entrance fee of Tshs 5000 and and weekly contribution of Tshs 1000. The group is also involved in tailoring activities, selling khanga and vitenge so as to generate income for the group. Until November 2004 the grroup had a bank balance of Tshs 3000, 000.

 

Problems

 

·         Poor attendance of some members in group meetings due to lack of guidelines

·         Lack of capita for opening a wholesale shop/bar

 

iii)       Kigamboni – K4 women group

 

K5 started in year 2003 with 23 members but currently has remained with 11 members. The objectives of the group was savings and loan group and women mobilisation. Each member had to pay an entrance fee of Tshs 1000 and weekly contribution of Tshs 500. Members also had to buy shares whereby each member had to buy 5 shares, each share worth Tshs 10,000. For the new members entrance fee is Tshs 5000. Each member has a right of getting a loan from the group but needs to have a sponsor or property that will be her security.  A member can take double of the amount she has saed in the group as a loan and pay back with an interest of 1%. Until Nov 2004 the group had Tshs 96, 500 at bank. Every Tuesday members meet to collect their weekly contributions and discuss on progress of their group. The late comers are paying a fine of Tshs 200

 

Sources of income for the group

 

·         Members contributions

·         To Join stock market

·         Getting a loan from somewhere

·         Tshs 200 fine paid by the late comers in the meetings

 

2.3.      Practicing of the new system in Zamcargo

 

The visitors from Malawi got opportunity to stay with the community and thus make the process of leaning easier. For the four days that the visitors stayed in the community every morning were working with the women going to the house of each member collecting money, showing them how to keep records in the members books. On the other hand it was a chance for Tanzanian women to learning and practice the process from experienced people.

 

Practicing of the new system started when the Malawi’s were still present and when they left the groups knew how to go about and were very enthusiastic to continue.

 

2.4       Funds/Finance

 

The group from Malawi left Tanzanians USD $200 for the initial work, the money was spent to establish links between groups through exchange visits and awareness raising activities in the settlements.

 

 

2.5        Exchange visits

 

            Internal

 

Internally exchange visits are continually facilitated among the groups to empower them to adopt the new system

 

2.6        Establishing supportive mechanism to the women federations

 

In order to support the initiative of women federation in Dar es Salaam a the center for community initiatives has been established and is fully registered. Currently the coordination of the activities is being managed by Ms Mwanakombo Mkanga (Meki) who is the Programme Manager.

 

2.7        Production of savings/loan  books

 

Production of savings and loan books for the groups has not taken place yet because of lack of fund but so far the organisation has already find a producer of the books at a cost of Tshs 500 each. $1 is equivalent to Tshs 1000

 

3.0        ACHIEVEMENTS

 

3.1.       Establishment of women federations

 

Four women federations have been established in four settlements ie. Keko Mwanga B, Zamcargo, Kigamboni and ferry. The groups are conducting daily savings and weekly meetings to discuss progress of federation. The groups are also visiting each other  to assess their progress and assist each other in case of problems.

 

Current status of the women’s federation in Dar es Salaam:

 

-           Zamcargo: Started in 26 November 2004 with 16 members, now has 37 members and have Tshs 400,000 at bank

 

-           Kigamboni: started in mid December with 16 members and have more than T shs 60,000 at bank

 

-           Keko mwanga B: Started in mid December and now has 16 Members with more than tshs 100,000 at bank

 

-                      Ferry: Started in late December and now has 17 members and more than 60,000 at bank

 

3.2        Funding

 

Through financial support of $200 from the Malawi federation it has been possible to execute exchange visits coordination meetings within respective settlements.

 

 

3.3   Enthusiasm among the women federations

 

The women federations have been very enthusiastic to adopt the system of saving daily. This has been mainly contributed by the exchange visit from Malawi federation and the continuous support of the center for community Initiatives.

 

4.0        CHALLENGES

 

4.1        Difficulties in adopting the new system

 

For the women groups which established savings in other styles i.e. weekly or monthly it becomes very difficult for them to adopt the new system.

 

4.2        Poor attendance in weekly meetings

 

Some of the members of the federations have not yet understood the importance of weekly meetings of the federations which sometimes lead to poor attendance.

 

4.3        Resources

 

As the initiative is still very new in Tanzania the programme is challenged by financial and human resources. More financial resources are required in order to facilitate exchange visits, production of savings/loan books and supportive role of coordination of activities.