Zamfi to conduct training workshops for money-lending firms

Zamfi executive director Mr Godfrey Chitambo said the workshops were also aimed at improving micro finance institutions personnel understanding of credit management.
“We will be having two workshops in Harare and Bulawayo on training needs identification. At the moment, we are not sure of our Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) skills level in terms of credit management because as an association we have not done a proper training needs analysis,” he said.
He said during the economic meltdown a number of micro-lending institutions folded resulting in qualified and experienced personnel leaving the sector.
He said the liberalisation of the economy in 2009 saw the resuscitation of MFIs with most of them hiring unqualified and inexperienced personnel.
“Because since the resuscitation of micro- finance institutions Zamfi has not done a proper training needs analysis for MFIs, we have decided to conduct two workshops in Harare and Bulawayo.
“The workshops give them an opportunity to identify their training needs on credit management as well as giving them an opportunity to take advantage of our credit bureau once it becomes established
“The workshops will be attended by middle managers and junior staff from both our members and non-members,” he said.
The Zamfi credit bureau creates a platform to provide a database for borrowers to MFIs.
In a separate interview, Zamfi project coordinator Mr Rueben Muchada said it was critical for MFIs to proactively identify their training needs during the workshops.
“The workshops will be conducted before the end of month. We need to proactively identify training so that at the end we produce a report for individual MFIs, which we will then use to devise a strategy for further training to improve their operations,” he said.