Worker cooperatives across Africa gathered at the 2024 Cooperative Movement Stakeholders’ Annual Conference and Platform Cooperativism Consortium to discuss shared challenges and potential solutions for this unique and growing sector. Worker cooperatives are member-owned and operated, often providing crucial economic opportunities for informal sector workers. Yet, many face significant obstacles that hamper their development and competitiveness. From Tanzania to Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, cooperative leaders highlighted the need for supportive policies, financial resources, and market access to ensure their sustainability and growth.
The Quest for Autonomy: UWAMAMA Women Cooperative, Tanzania
Tina Mfanga of the UWAMAMA Women Cooperative in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, spoke on behalf of a cooperative founded in 2020 to counter the exploitation of local skills by microfinance institutions. UWAMAMA stands out for its dual focus on economic and political empowerment, offering members a voice in decisions affecting their work and their rights. Through collective production of cleaning products and catering services, the cooperative has grown as a business and a force for community solidarity. Yet, Mfanga expressed frustration with Tanzania’s rigid cooperative registration process, where bureaucracy stifles the sector’s autonomy and limits its growth potential.
“The registration officers have more power over our cooperative than we do,” Mfanga noted, explaining that governmental overreach complicates registration and limits cooperatives’ independence. According to Mfanga, real growth for cooperatives requires policy changes that support their autonomy, a goal UWAMAMA is striving to achieve by fostering solidarity among members and allies.
Zimbabwe’s Worker Cooperative Movement: Building from
Independence
Andrew Nyagi from Zimbabwe recounted how his worker
cooperative began in the 1980s, following the country’s independence. Formed by
ex-freedom fighters, the cooperative initially struggled to find land for
poultry farming, with members forced to sell chicken in the streets to sustain
their operations. This grassroots resilience, however, has enabled them to
overcome bureaucratic indifference and poor market access, creating a model
that others can learn from. Nyagi believes that cooperative institutions should
be led by individuals who understand the cooperative model firsthand, a reform
that could prevent cooperatives from facing such systemic obstacles in the
future.
The Honey Economy: Kamaki Farmers Cooperative, Kenya
For Esther Mutunga of Kenya’s Kamaki Farmers Cooperative,
establishing fair pricing and collective marketing has been a game-changer.
Based in Kitui County, Kamaki started by supporting farmers with dairy,
poultry, and bee-keeping initiatives, eventually investing in honey value
addition and establishing a local processing plant. But success has not come
without challenges. The cooperative has faced market penetration hurdles due to
strict regulatory barriers and certification issues. “Applying for certification
can take multiple attempts, not to mention substantial fees,” Mutunga said,
emphasizing the need for a streamlined regulatory framework for cooperatives.
She called for greater support from cooperative stakeholders to ensure local
cooperatives do not die at the community level due to lack of access to broader
markets.
Research and Development: Cooperative Sector in Malawi
In Malawi, cooperative development researcher Ulemu Maseko
noted that most of the country’s cooperatives are agriculture-based, operating
in rural areas with little governmental support. Efforts to support youth
involvement, digitalization, and capacity-building for cooperatives are
critical steps that Maseko’s institution is pushing for, in collaboration with
both African and international partners. However, Maseko stated that the need
for education on cooperative practices remains, as this will help prepare young
members to lead and sustain these cooperatives over time.
The Fight for Funding: Kigro Waste Recyclers Cooperative,
Kenya
Rodgers Rombe from Kenya’s Kigro Waste Recyclers Cooperative
described the financial hurdles cooperatives face. Despite strides in waste
collection and recycling in Nairobi, Rombe’s cooperative has struggled to
access the necessary funding to expand their activities. He emphasized that
SACCOs, with their greater access to financing, should offer low-interest loans
to worker cooperatives.
“This would embody the cooperative principle of cooperation
among cooperatives,” he noted.
As Africa’s worker cooperatives continue their work under
challenging conditions, the sector calls for a framework that promotes their
autonomy, improves market access, and provides financial support. The solutions
discussed at this year’s conference reflect a shared vision of a more
resilient, self-reliant cooperative movement across Africa.
