Zathu Zikwane

Loan description:

The Zathu Zikwane women's group from Mazabuka district in southern Zambia has a membership of seventeen women aged between 26 and 43. Some of the women in this group are married whilst others are divorced. These women have children who are in school and also look after school going orphans. The women of Zathu Zikwane run small-scale businesses with the aim of improving their household incomes.They have a variety of businesses which include selling 'kapenta' (small dried fish), raising and selling goats and pigs, and growing and selling potatoes, rice and vegetables. Most of their customers come from areas surrounding their villages. The group has successfully undergone training and it is now ready to receive its first loan. The main purpose of the loan is to increase their working capital, buying feed, various farming inputs and ordering more stock to sell. Margaret Nyirenda is 32 years old and is a member of this group. She is married and has three children who are in school. She runs a market stall selling cabbages and tomatoes. Margaret intends to use the loan to order items that are in demand but are currently not available at her stall like rice, potatoes and dried vegetables.