People with disabilities get loans

Mncedisi Buhali Sunday News Reporter
THE Muscular Dystrophy Association of Zimbabwe (MDAZ) recently held a business workshop aimed at equipping people with disabilities, who recently got business loans from the organisation, with skills.The workshop, which was held in Bulawayo recently, saw the organisation training participants on the best ways of investing loans so as to get returns.

The association got funding from the African Development Foundation, which they aimed at disbursing among people with disabilities to start various projects.

“We give disabled people loans and this grant ends in March next year, meaning that when someone gets the money and does not return it on agreed time, it may expose the organisation to quite a number of challenges. We have been hosting this workshop in groups and today we have the fourth group,” said the manager and founder member of the association, Mr Watson Khuphe.

Speaking at the same workshop, a consultant from Khanye Development Trust Centre for Christian Entrepreneurship, Mr Phillip Jambaya said for people to succeed in their businesses, they had to make a number of considerations which include their target market and possible returns.

He said the entrepreneurs must have business skills, technical skills and be committed, self-motivated and take calculated risks.

“People with disabilities need to be trained to run their businesses effectively because they have the ability to do something for themselves. The training also has to deal with the mind because that is the starting point of many things,” said Mr Jambaya.

The MDAZ runs small livelihood projects such as poultry, vending and market gardening especially in rural areas. The association was formed in 1992 by people living with disabilities. It lobbies for the rights and welfare of members and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and solutions to specific conditions and needs of its members.

“The people’s response towards these loans is overwhelming, because we cover places like Plumtree, Mangwe, Masvingo, Chiredzi, Zaka, Gweru, and we have already given 125 loans including Bulawayo, which exceeds our planned target of 77 loans. We do not give them these loans only, but we train, monitor, advise, and do follow-ups,” said projects officer Mr German Simanga.