Use and Impact of Savings Services Among Poor People in Zimbabwe: What It Means for Microfinance Institutions

• by Leonard Mutesasira and Petronella Chigara
• Aug 1, 2001
• 1 min
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This study outlines the reasons for which poor people save and the methods through which they rely on generally informal mechanisms in Zimbabwe.

This study outlines the reasons for which poor people save and the methods through which they rely on generally informal mechanisms in Zimbabwe. The common informal mechanisms popular in Zimbabwe are burial societies, RoSCAs and ASCAS, Savings clubs, Saving at home, Savings in kind – and the gender dimension, saving with employer, reciprocal  lending. The microfinance institutions (MFIs), housing cooperatives and savings and credit cooperatives (SAACOs) constitute the semi formal sector, while building societies, unit trusts and shares, funeral insurance companies are the popular forms for informal sector. It also reviews the key features that attract clients toward savings facilities some of which are related to minimum opening balance, flexibility in withdrawals, and proximity to clients’ places.