Source: The Guardian
Beneficiaries of the Women Empowerment in Zanzibar (Weza) project have engaged in clove-soap making to fight abject poverty and boost their incomes.

 

According to a press statement issued in Dar es Salaam on Sunday by the Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa), Weza members in Nganani and Kizimkazi Mkunguni in Unguja South and Piki in Pemba North initiated the project after realising that it was viable and a good deal for making money quickly.

Secretary of one of the beneficiary groups known, as Tupendane, Mahabuba Thabit, from Kizimkazi Mkunguni in Unguja South region, said the soap making initiative was launched mid last year after the members had attended handcraft trainings organised by Weza.

She said the project’s working capital of 199,000/- was spent on soap ingredients such as clove oil, powder, caustic soda and soap cutting equipment.

Mahabuba said in an exclusive interview that the group had manufactured soap two times between June and December, last year during which they earned a profit of 370,000/- in total.

She further said the lack of enough modern cutting machines and packaging facilities remained the main challenge that needs immediate attention, if the project is to flourish sustainably.

Mahabuba called for support from development partners and the government in order to develop the local soap industry and create more jobs, especially for women.

Weza Capacity Building Officer charged with savings and loans, Hakum Sanani, said should soap-making production improve; women in Zanzibar would secure a big market share in the soap-making industry and overwhelmingly improved their livelihood.

The Weza project was initiated three years ago for the purpose of improving the social economic status of rural poor women in Zanzibar, said the Tamwa press statement.

“The project is implemented by Care Tanzania in partnership with Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa), and co-financed by the European Union (EU), the government of Austria and Care Austria,” it added.

• Tanzania