As tradition has it, women play a vital role in maintaining the welfare of their families and households. From preparing meals and budgeting household expenses to paying school fees and responding to emergencies, women are often at the centre of family life. It is hardly surprising that women dominate communal savings membership schemes, otherwise known locally as Mukando.
Mukando, or a stokvel, is a communal-based saving or investment club where a group of people make regular, agreed-upon money contributions to a common pool. In many communities, Mukando has become more than just a savings club; it is a financial lifeline for women. Built on trust, discipline, and community support, Mukando enables women to save money collectively and receive a lump sum on a rotating basis or on yearly December festival hampers from neighbouring countries.
This simple yet effective system has empowered countless women to achieve goals that might otherwise seem out of reach.
Crooked Lanes Media has turned its lens to how women in different parts of Highfield have managed to fend for their families through stokvels or Mukando systems.
In interviews conducted in different parts of Highfield, some women expressed that these savings clubs have helped them save and buy groceries, appliances, and other necessities to grow their homes.
Mai Tapiwa, a mother who advised that her full name not be written, explained their savings structure.
“Before joining Mukando, it was difficult to save money because unexpected expenses always came up. Now I know that when my turn comes, I can pay my children’s school fees without borrowing. Mukando has given me peace of mind, ” she said.
She went on to say the savings club has strengthened relationships among women in the community, who encourage one another and share ideas on income-generating projects.
Image credit: CS Monitor
Another resident, living in Egypt, a section in Highfield, who provided information on conditions of anonymity, said that the choice of Mukando differs, but the goal is one.
“We might do our club’s savings in different ways. Like in ours, we rotate per month. If Mai Kuda is getting hers, then next month it’s me. Until we all have gained. What one does with the money is their business, ” the anonymous resident said.
Worryingly, these saving clubs have in recent years become targets of crimes and theft.
A case in point is a recent case in Nyanga where a couple absconded with the club savings, and were ordered to repay the money by a community court.
Tafadzwa Moyo, a resident, said discipline is the foundation of every successful Mukando group.
“Trust is everything. Every member understands that contributing on time ensures everyone benefits. When people work together honestly, Mukando becomes a reliable financial safety net, ” she said.
However, Tariro Magaya, a Highfield resident, has criticised the money-saving club as a one-way for disunity in the community.
” I have heard many women in our areas no longer see eye to eye over these clubs and monetary issues. People are just not reporting these cases, but many people have lost their money to these financial saving clubs, ” she said.
As the cost of living continues to rise, Mukando remains a practical solution for many Zimbabwean women.
It demonstrates that financial empowerment does not always require access to formal banking institutions.
Through collective effort, discipline, and mutual trust, women are transforming their households and strengthening their communities one contribution at a time.
