Africa-Press – Angola. A group of 300 street vendors from the municipalities of Chinjenje, Ecunha and Ucuma, benefited this Monday from microcredit of 33 thousand 330 Kwanzas/each, within the scope of the “Votoka” project, an expression in the national language Umbundu, which means “ Get up.”
These are 120 women from Ucuma, 90 from Chinjenje and the same number from Ecunha, supported by the personal initiative project of the governor of Huambo province, Lotti Nolika, which has the contribution of Fundação Brilhante, which aims to improve the income of this fringe dedicated to small businesses, but with different difficulties.
The project, started two years ago, increases, with the granting of microcredit to street vendors in Chinjenje, Ecunha and Ucuma, 1,20 women beneficiaries, after Bailundo, Caála, Cachiungo, Chicala-Cholohanga, Huambo and Longonjo.
Executed by the Social Action, Family and Gender Equality office, street vendors repay the microcredit over a period of seven months, one of which is free, with an interest rate of nine percent, to be applied to the same action.
On the occasion, the governor of the province of Huambo, Lotti Nolika, was happy for the growth of the “Votoca” project, which has the help of several local partners.
He said that the delivery of 33 thousand 330 Kwanzas to the new 300 street vendors aims to follow up on the completion of the first phase of the project, which brought the total number of benefiting zungueiras to 1,200.
To this end, Lotti Nolika asked the beneficiaries to work on multiplying family income, so that the remaining municipalities in need can complete the first phase of the project successfully.
The government official announced, for March 2024, the opening of the second phase of the project, which plans to cover only women who comply with the due reimbursements.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Rosalina Ndepeta, said that the initiative will improve the profits of their commercial activities and the quality of life of their families.
He encouraged the governor of Huambo province, Lotti Nolika, to continue with activities aimed at improving the well-being of zungueiras, who often have no way to diversify their activities.
In turn, the director of the Huambo Social Action, Family and Gender Equality office, Maria de Fátima Cawewe, warned the zungueiras to reimburse the amounts within the stipulated deadline, otherwise they would have to pay a fine of 61 Kwanzas/day.
The project also includes training in small business management”, provided by the non-governmental organization Action for Rural Development and the Environment (ADRA).
“Votoka” has a budget of 60 million Kwanzas and, to date, has disbursed 33 million, 996 thousand and 600 KZ.
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