Women unite to beat poverty in Nshakashogwe

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Monday August 20, 2012 00:00

Perhaps, even some male chauvinists still believe it is only man alone who should fend for the upkeep of the family. It is clear nowadays that men too face the hardships of lack of money due to unemployment resulting in women confronting the poverty ogre alone

Nshakashongwe women may not be the proverbial Amazons, but they have taken up arms to go into battle with hunger and strife that dog their community. 

It is a gargle of 17 women at Modie Ward in Nshakashongwe who came together in June this year to form a society, aptly called Musanani (wake each other up) Women's Society to enrich their lives in a plethora of ways. In an interview with The Monitor, Musanani Chairperson Lucy Obokeng Maganu 66 said as unemployed women in the village they decided to form a society which can help them to improve their lives. 'In our women society we cook traditional food which everyone harvests from her own fields and cook to sell cooked food to the community to raise money for ourselves.

'Every month end one of us hosts a 'come-together' at her yard, cooking all the traditional dishes and fellow society women help out in the preparation of the food, ' said Maganu.

Maganu said Musanani Women's Society started with only 12 members and grew to 30 members in two months.'Every month end we alternate as to who hosts a festival at her place which we all attend at each gathering. We contribute P100 each to the one hosting. The money that we accrue from the food that has been sold is also given to the host, ' she said. She explained that they (Musanani Women's Society) prepare Ikalanga dishes like Thopi (pumpkin porridge), Koko ya Setswana, Dobi (vegetables mixed with groundnuts) and samp with beans.

A plate costs P20 and all the women come armed with P20 to buy a plate on the day. 'In fact, everyone in the community is free to come and purchase our food. The idea of such a service has been greatly appreciated by the community because they always come to support us and buy our food, ' she said.

Maganu said on the day of the gathering they discuss issues concerning women's lives, health and their wellbeing. She said the society monitors and guides each other on every day issues. 'We urge unity among ourselves, we help each other in times of funerals, weddings or any gathering as the society to build the spirit of cooperation among ourselves.

Reginah Mosweu 59, the Vice Chairman of the society said they decided to form the women's society to fight hunger in homes.

'Most of us are retired mothers and we have families to look after. Staying home without doing anything can affect your role as a mother.

That is why we decided to form this women's society to raise money for our families, ' said Mosweu. Mosweu said their society is making profit and the community has been supportive as they can raise more money at each gathering.'In our first gathering we raised P2,500 and in the second one we raised P1,300 and we are in the third gathering, ' said Mosweu last week Saturday at their gathering. (She was speaking on the sidelines of the third meeting, and by then they had not counted the money to see how much they made that day.)

She said that as Musanani Women's Society they are still going strong and that the incentives they garner give them a lot of hope and that they are very helpful to their families.

'We have decided that every ploughing season we will plough enough food so that some will be left to be used in the society. Our society is not demanding because we are using traditional food from the fields.

There is nothing we buy from the shops, ' said Mosweu. Keene Keetetswe 39 who is still a mafikizolo as she joined the society only two weeks ago said she decided to enlist after realising the good things the society is doing to its members.'I am unemployed and have three children to support and with the help from the money I will raise in the society I will be able to support my children, ' she said confidently.

Keetetswe said the society is low maintenance (you don't need money to join) because you use crops from your own fields to cook and raise money that is of benefit to your family. She said she has a small business where she sells vegetables and with the help of the money she will be raising from the society, it will come as a serious boost to her business.Another member Otsoseng Sekgwa 41 said she has been brought into this women society by poverty. She said majority of women are unemployed while the economy of the country is declining daily and joining associations like Musanani helps to improve their lives.

'I have seen good things from this society and it has been helping me spiritually, psychologically, mentally and physically because we discuss many issues concerning our lives as women in this society, ' she said.