10 Jun 2018

 Living out the Setswana saying: se a re go tlogelwa tsatsing, se ikise meriting; a group of Ghanzi women has taken it upon themselves to take control of their lives economically and socially.  

The group, which chose to be called ‘Dzoga Basari’ loosely translated stand up women, has managed to save money through contributing a minimum of P5 every Monday when they meet and charge P2 for late coming to meeting.

They use the accrued funds for funerals, weddings, family problems and other issues that need finances.

The women also support one another’s families to address HIV/AIDS issues, domestic abuse, raising children and starting backyard gardens.

The members of the group, which started in 2014 are nine. Dzoga Basari started as a door to door health promotion campaign and in the end some women were recruited into the group to save money and to address social issues that affect them.

In an interview with BOPA, Ms Kerri Rodkey, who mentors the women, said the group had been a successful initiative that had empowered unemployed women to be self-reliant.

She expressed her joy at working with the women, whom she described as motivated, goal-driven and women of substance.

Dzoga Basari recently registered a catering company, which they hope will result in more savings, hence enabling individuals to open their own businesses.

The women have also managed to open an account into which they deposit the money and access it only when necessary.

Despite challenges such as lack of resources, shortage of finances and balancing social lives with business, the women continue to persevere and go from strength to strength.

One of them, Ms Gaolebisiwe Baumake of Hukuntsi says she has learnt how to manage meetings, to save money as part of a group and how to manage finances despite being illiterate.

Ms Lesego Monyatse, who hails from Karakubis said, “Dzoga Basari has saved me from financial trouble, family problems and emotional stress.”

Before Dzoga Basari, Ms Monyatse said she was going through a rough patch in her life as she had no source of income and was under a lot of stress.

She said by joining the motivated women, she had turned over a new leaf and found peace through financial and social support from the group.

She thus advised other women to be self-reliant and not be dependent on men. Ms Tebang Teye, who is a former government employee and a mother of three, says she believes in being independent.

She said this motto drove her to join the financial initiative in order to have her own source of income and not rely on her husband.

Ms Kepegwang Kaedume says she likes being part of the group because initially she did nothing for a living, but now she is part of a group of women who run a catering company.

The Kalkfontein-born woman said she had received a lot of support from the initiative and hopes to learn more with time.

She also said, “It is a good thing for women to have a social club. We counsel one another and share problems as we have similar backgrounds and face similar challenges.”  ENDS