Barriers towards Enterprising of Cooperatives in Sesheke District of Zambia
Date
2018-10
Authors
Simamba, Habeenzu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to explore on barriers to the enterprising of cooperatives
in Sesheke District. This was against the background that cooperatives were not
enterprising for over a decade. Thus, the study enquired on; what cooperatives were
doing in their quest to enterprise, why they were in their current state of nonenterprising
and what practical solutions would help resolve the problem.
The study took a phenomenological approach and generated data by enlisting nighty
two (92) participants. These included eighty (80) participants from executive boards of
cooperatives through focus group discussions and twelve (12) key informants through
a workshop. The participants were sampled using Maximum Variation Sampling of
whicThe findings revealed that cooperatives of Sesheke District were not enterprising as its
members were not collectively engaged into any activity. The non enterprising of
cooperatives is attributed to six (6) internal and three (3) external barriers. Internally,
the enterprising of cooperatives is impeded by lack of; a vision, business plans, internal
resource mobilization, cohesion amongst members, good leadership and profitable
investment decisions. While externally, a weak legal framework, lack of access to
external aid and a conducive market environment are factors affecting the enterprising
of cooperatives.
Cooperative members were not collectively engaged into any activity as they
disregarded the cooperative ethics, values and principles. Besides cooperatives did not
have vision statements and business plans as members lacked skill on how to formulate
them. Apart from this, there was poor internal resource mobilization as members were
reluctant to buy shares for fear that their money would be abused by their leaders.
Further, lack of cohesion was due to the infighting among the members of cooperatives.
While, poor leadership and unprofitable investment decisions were due to high
illiteracy levels of its members. Externally, a weak legal framework, lack of access to
external aid and poor market environment affected the enterprising of cooperatives due
to the prevailing unfavorable policy framework. To overcome the internal and external
barriers towards the enterprising of cooperatives in Sesheke District, the study
recommended for the strengthening of the cooperative legislation, capacity build
cooperatives and establishment of village cooperative banks.
Description
Phd.Thesis
Keywords
Entrepreneurship--Cooperatives--Zambia