By STEVEN ZANDE –
INTERNATIONAL Ministers’ Fellowship and Affiliated Churches (IMFAC) has disbursed loans worth K150,000 to about 300 vulnerable people to help them run business ventures and subsequently reduce household poverty.
IMFAC president Paul Mulenga said more than 500 beneficiaries from 10 provinces of the country, were expected to benefit from skills and financial empowerment in the next two months.
Apostle Mulenga said the loans which have flexible repayment terms of one year with 20 per cent interest were aimed at complementing Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty.
He said this during the disbursement of loans to 50 beneficiaries in Lusaka yesterday.
Apostle Mulenga said the empowerment programme was targeting women from disadvantaged communities to help uplift them out of poverty.
“Poverty alleviation is not just the work of Government, as the church, we also have to come on board and help fight poverty in accordance with biblical teachings on giving,” Dr Mulenga said.
He said the beneficiaries were trained with skills on how to run a successful business through hard work and good saving habits, in order for their businesses to thrive.
Elizabeth Bwalya, 56, one of the beneficiaries of the previous disbursement schemes, said she borrowed K10, 000 last year, which she invested in fish trading business, which had now expanded.
Ms Bwalya said before giving her the loan, IMFAC taught her how to expand her running capital saving and working hard.
She said her capital had currently reached more than K20, 000 and had managed to pay back the loan.
IMFAC also purchased 25 kilogramme bags of mealie-meal and other basic essentials, which were distributed among widows and the aged.