Comsip clusters excite Chiradzulu communities

Communities in Chiradzulu District have commended Community Savings and Investment Promotion (Comsip) clusters for improving their livelihoods.

Speaking last week during a media tour to Chimwankhunda Comsip Cooperative in group village head (GVH) Njeremba, Traditional Authority (T/A) Likoswe, one of the cooperative members, Eneless Kamoto, said they are empowered economically through easy access to loans for businesses.

“Our lives have changed for the better as the group promotes an investment culture that made us live our entrepreneurship dreams.

“On my part, with proceeds from selling secondhand clothes, I have built a decent house with corrugated iron sheets and I own livestock,” she said

A farmer from Mwengo Village in the area, Charles Vincent, said the group enabled him to improve his farming business and achieve household food security.

“In 2014, I boosted my tomato farming business with a K100 000 loan and sold the crop at K507 000. Since then, I expanded my scope into piggery and maize farming that help me provide needs at home.

“I have also bought a half-tonner pick-up to facilitate transportation of farm produce to markets,” he said.

GVH Njeremba said he was delighted with the initiative that has stimulated sustainable development in his area.

In an interview, Chiradzulu district community development officer Blessings Kayira said the groups have enhanced economic activities in the district.

“Households involved in Comsip clusters have won the fight against poverty. They possess many development assets  and that is  no mean achievement in a country where majority of the people live below the poverty line,” he said.

With financial support from the World Bank, Comsip Cooperative Union runs 63 clusters in the district, which were formed in  2010. n