Leaders of 10 Vicoba in Burunge WMA are Asked to be Conservation Ambassadors

 

the community projects manager of Chemchem Association, Napendaeli Wazoeli speaking to Journalists 

Assistant Administrative Secretary, Manyara Region, Faraja Ngerageza speaking to Journalists

Our Staff writer, Babati

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Leaders of 10 Village Community Bank (VICOBA) in the area of ​​the Burunge Wildlife Management Areas  have been asked to be good conservation ambassadors so that they can continue to benefit from the affordable capital to run their business.

10 VICOBA groups in the area have been given more than 10 million by the Chemchem association that do conservation activities in the Burunge WMA area so that they can lend to each other and thus get rid of poverty.

Assistant Administrative Secretary, Manyara Region, Faraja Ngerageza speaking when closing the training of the leaders of 10 VICOBA Groups in the Burunge WMA area said leaders who have been trained, should also be conservation ambassadors.

"You have been trained in financial Management and the new government regulations of VICOBA now if you want to continue to benefit from the capital  you should be good also in conservation" he said

He said that the Chemchem Association has been sponsoring the vicoba groups so that they also contribute to the development of conservation, to fight poaching but also to carry out production activities to increase their income.

Previously, the community projects manager of Chemchem Association, Napendaeli Wazoeli said that the Chemchem Association has been helping the groups to lend to each other.

Wazoeli said they have given them education so that they can comply with the government's 2019 policy on vicobas which gives them recognition as BOT and placed under the administration of President office, Regional Administration and local Government.

"Our institution has been able to put groups under our supervision, continuing to do their activities, but we have also been empowering " she said.

"Since 2019 we have been helping these groups and now they have been able to keep their savings and they lend well to each other" she said

She said that despite the groups being trained in the new rules, they have also been given education on keeping money by NMB Bank experts, but they have also been given education on wildlife conservation.

Community Development Officer of Babati Council, Fadhila Nyambulapi said the leaders of the groups after the training are expected to change and run VICOBA in modern way.

"We expect to reduce cases of people borrowing money and failing to repay, but also the money will be kept in the bank and we congratulate everyone to support this training" he said

The leaders of the vicoba, Bayi Sabida of the Vilima vitatu village  and Anna Henry of the Isinyai group said that the training has been of great benefit to them.

"We know how to take care of money, prepare financial statements but also evaluate the provision of loans" said Anna.

The three-day training was opened by Babati Council Director Anna Mbogo and was also attended by one of the directors of Chemchem Association Fabia Bausch who promised to continue helping the groups.