IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ejn/ejbmjr/v9y2021i1p47-60.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) on Financial Inclusion in Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Takudzwa Pasara

    (North-West University, South Africa)

  • Albert Makochekanwa

    (University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe)

  • Steven Henry Dunga

    (North-West University, South Africa)

Abstract

This paper investigated the role of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) in Zimbabwe using a national baseline survey. Several economic challenges over the past two decades left ordinary citizens unbanked and financially excluded. SACCOs are viewed as a viable option towards financial inclusion. Classical and modern theoretical literature as well as experiences from other African countries were discussed. Data was collected using a triangulation method of questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) across 147 SACCOs. It was observed that there are around 6,028 cooperatives with only 4.8% (289) being SACCOs and majority of members cannot distinguish between cooperatives and SACCOs. More than 90% cited that economic and political conditions eroded their savings value thereby reducing confidence in thrift models. 77 SACCOs (52.8%) do not own assets, and only 6.2% have over 1,000 members. Discrepancies emanate from inconsistent subscriptions, unfavorable and outdated government by-laws. SACCOs are classified as high-risk borrowers due to inconsistent subscriptions and poorly audited financial statements resulting in high interest rates and adverse selection. The study recommends additional training to increase administrative capacity and the scope of SACCOs, increased coordination of operations to reduce systematic risk through consistent by-laws and economic policies that stimulate stability and restore confidence in the financial sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Takudzwa Pasara & Albert Makochekanwa & Steven Henry Dunga, 2021. "The Role of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) on Financial Inclusion in Zimbabwe," Eurasian Journal of Business and Management, Eurasian Publications, vol. 9(1), pages 47-60.
    • Handle: RePEc:ejn:ejbmjr:v:9:y:2021:i:1:p:47-60
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://eurasianpublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EJBM-9.1.4.4.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna L. Paulson & Robert M. Townsend & Alexander Karaivanov, 2006. "Distinguishing Limited Liability from Moral Hazard in a Model of Entrepreneurship," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 114(1), pages 100-144, February.
    2. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    3. Francisco J Buera & Joseph P Kaboski & Yongseok Shin, 2021. "The Macroeconomics of Microfinance," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(1), pages 126-161.
    4. Stewart C. Myers & Nicholas S. Majluf, 1984. "Corporate Financing and Investment Decisions When Firms Have InformationThat Investors Do Not Have," NBER Working Papers 1396, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Robin Burgess & Rohini Pande, 2005. "Do Rural Banks Matter? Evidence from the Indian Social Banking Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(3), pages 780-795, June.
    6. Huw Lloyd-Ellis & Dan Bernhardt, 2000. "Enterprise, Inequality and Economic Development," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 67(1), pages 147-168.
    7. Nyankomo Marwa & Meshach Aziakpono, 2016. "Technical and scale efficiency of Tanzanian saving and credit cooperatives," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 50(1), pages 29-46, January-M.
    8. Donal McKillop & Charles Ferguson, 1998. "An Examination of Borrower Orientation and Scale Effects in UK Credit Unions," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 69(2), pages 219-242, June.
    9. Caselli, Francesco, 2005. "Accounting for cross-country income differences," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 3567, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Nyankomo Marwa & Meshach Aziakpono, 2015. "Financial sustainability of Tanzanian saving and credit cooperatives," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 42(10), pages 870-887, October.
    11. Mathuva, David Mutua & Kiweu, Josephat Mboya, 2016. "Cooperative social and environmental disclosure and financial performance of savings and credit cooperatives in Kenya," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 197-206.
    12. Smith, Donald J & Cargill, Thomas F & Meyer, Robert A, 1981. "An Economic Theory of a Credit Union," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 36(2), pages 519-528, May.
    13. Drona Lal PURI & John Walsh, 2018. "Impact Of Good Governance On Performance Of Cooperatives In Nepal," Management and Marketing Journal, University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 0(2), pages 206-222, November.
    14. Amr KHAFAGY, 2019. "Finance, Distribution And The Economic Objective Of Financial Cooperative Institutions," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 90(3), pages 487-511, September.
    15. Caselli, Francesco, 2005. "Accounting for cross-country income differences," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 5266, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    16. Alexander Karaivanov & Robert M. Townsend, 2014. "Dynamic Financial Constraints: Distinguishing Mechanism Design From Exogenously Incomplete Regimes," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82(3), pages 887-959, May.
    17. Mariam Swalehe Said & Hairul Azlan Annuar & Hamdino Bin Hamdan, 2019. "An investigation into the financial sustainability of Islamic Saving, Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) in Tanzania," International Journal of Ethics and Systems, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 35(2), pages 242-259, January.
    18. Timothy J. Besley & Konrad B. Burchardi & Maitreesh Ghatak, 2012. "Incentives and the De Soto Effect," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 127(1), pages 237-282.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dabla-Norris, Era & Ji, Yan & Townsend, Robert M. & Filiz Unsal, D., 2021. "Distinguishing constraints on financial inclusion and their impact on GDP, TFP, and the distribution of income," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 1-18.
    2. Fuchs, William & Green, Brett & Papanikolaou, Dimitris, 2016. "Adverse selection, slow-moving capital, and misallocation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 286-308.
    3. Townsend, Robert & Dabla-Norris, Era & Ji, Yan & Unsal, Filiz, 2017. "Distinguishing Constraints on Financial Inclusion and Their Impact on GDP and Inequality," CEPR Discussion Papers 11742, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Fan Wang, 2022. "An Empirical Equilibrium Model of Formal and Informal Credit Markets in Developing Countries," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 46, pages 224-243, October.
    5. Ms. Era Dabla-Norris & Yan Ji & Robert M. Townsend & Ms. Filiz D Unsal, 2015. "Identifying Constraints to Financial Inclusion and Their Impact on GDP and Inequality: A Structural Framework for Policy," IMF Working Papers 2015/022, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Islam, Md. Rabiul & Madsen, Jakob B. & Raschky, Paul A., 2015. "Gold and silver mining in the 16th and 17th centuries, land titles and agricultural productivity," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 150-166.
    7. Karaivanov, Alexander, 2012. "Financial constraints and occupational choice in Thai villages," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 201-220.
    8. Joseph P. Kaboski & Robert M. Townsend, 2011. "A Structural Evaluation of a Large‐Scale Quasi‐Experimental Microfinance Initiative," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 79(5), pages 1357-1406, September.
    9. Francisco J. Buera & Joseph P. Kaboski & Yongseok Shin, 2015. "Entrepreneurship and Financial Frictions: A Macrodevelopment Perspective," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 409-436, August.
    10. Jing Zhang, 2020. "A Theoretical Framework of Financial Inclusion on Poverty Alleviation," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 10(5), pages 1-1.
    11. Breinlich, Holger & Ottaviano, Gianmarco I.P. & Temple, Jonathan R.W., 2014. "Regional Growth and Regional Decline," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 4, pages 683-779, Elsevier.
    12. Robert M. Townsend & Alexander Karaivanov, 2008. "Enterprise Dynamics and Finance: Distinguishing Mechanism Design from Exogenously Incomplete Markets Models," 2008 Meeting Papers 846, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    13. repec:esx:essedp:729 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Ján Zábojník, 2009. "Costly External Finance And Investment Efficiency In A Market Equilibrium Model," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 47(4), pages 639-652, October.
    15. Ghosh, Saibal, 2006. "Did financial liberalization ease financing constraints? Evidence from Indian firm-level data," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 176-190, June.
    16. Francesco Caselli & Nicola Gennaioli, 2013. "Dynastic Management," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(1), pages 971-996, January.
    17. Esteban Jaimovich, 2010. "Adverse Selection and Entrepreneurship in a Model of Development," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 112(1), pages 77-100, March.
    18. Duranton,Gilles & Ghani,Syed Ejaz & Grover,Arti Goswami & Kerr,William Robert & Duranton,Gilles & Ghani,Syed Ejaz & Goswami,Arti Grover & Kerr,William Robert, 2015. "Effects of land misallocation on capital allocations in India," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7451, The World Bank.
    19. Marco Botta & Luca Colombo, 2016. "Macroeconomic and Institutional Determinants of Capital Structure Decisions," DISCE - Working Papers del Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza def038, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    20. Santos, João & Domingos, Tiago & Sousa, Tânia & St. Aubyn, Miguel, 2016. "Does a small cost share reflect a negligible role for energy in economic production? Testing for aggregate production functions including capital, labor, and useful exergy through a cointegration-base," MPRA Paper 70850, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    21. Nam, Changwoo, 2016. "Impact of Corporate Tax Cuts on Corporate Investment," KDI Policy Forum 264, Korea Development Institute (KDI).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ejn:ejbmjr:v:9:y:2021:i:1:p:47-60. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Esra Barakli (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.