Sitolo

VILLAGE MZATI: Tamala Iwalani

“Girls are now being given opportunities to be on their own and do their own thing. I think the future will be a bit different from my mother’s days.”

Tamala Iwalani represents the next generation of leader in her village, Sitolo. This business-minded 21-year-old took the money her father gave her to spend on clothes and instead started her own store. She sells sugar, matches, soap, candles and other items. Today, most of her stock fits in what looks like a laundry basket, but she hopes one day to have a bricks-and-mortar store in the trading center. She thinks CARE’s plan for village savings and loan associations (VSLA) will help her achieve her goals.

“I am interested in VSLA,” Tamala says. “There are people here who are so interested – I know we can do it. I don’t think of any complications now. Maybe they will come up once we get started, but you know that’s how it is – sometimes you have challenges, sometimes you don’t.”

Spoken like a woman who doesn’t mind learning by doing. Tamala has already proven she can adjust to the business environment: When she was letting people buy on credit, she soon found she didn’t have enough capital to stock her store. Now she runs a cash-only business and her success may inspire others.

“I expect changes with VSLA because some who are interested to do something like I am will be able to learn about business and be able to acquire loans, do business and save,” says Tamala. “With VSLA, I will grow farther than where I am.”

“Today Sitolo has taken the lead. Now let us see who will follow.” – Song composed by the women of Sitolo.

Not eight years after its founding, the tiny town of Sitolo stubbornly refused to support the one-party system of self-declared President for Life Kamuzu Banda. The decision to back multi-party democracy and disobey the ruling party went over particularly poorly in Kasungu, the district where Banda was born.

“They were saying, if you lose, we will come and burn your houses,” said Headman Bodwin Malunda Banda, who is no relation to the president in question, though he shares his very common last name. “We told them that, whatever the case, multi-party will pass.”

Their conviction proved true and they believe life has gotten better ever since.

“With democracy, there are more schools,” Bodwin said. “In the past years our boys and girls, none could get education, not even one. These days, most of our children are going to school.”

For people in Sitolo, this courage to embrace change comes from their ability to work together.

As HIV and AIDS has ravaged a generation of parents who ought to have been in their prime, the youth of Sitolo have taken to pooling their savings to buy soap and food for children orphaned by the pandemic.

“We contribute whatever amount we can in the beginning of each month and in the end,” said 18 year-old Chisomo Dickson. “We also don't want people to be sick because, when they are sick, development goes down in a country.”

In Sitolo, the strict hierarchy that usually governs the interactions between traditional leaders in Malawi takes a more democratic form. Even in relaxed conversation with a visitor from overseas, Henry Chingalu Phiri, the group village headman of Sitolo, confers with the village headmen who work beneath him to come up with the best answer.

“Farming cooperatives are part of our history,” said Henry. “We have zeal and enthusiasm. When we are called for development, we quickly come together.”