Examining Challenges Leading to Low Integration of Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies (SACCOs) in National Economies: A Study of Zambia ()
ABSTRACT
Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs)
contribute significantly towards economically empowering people and easing
poverty owing to their member-driven structure in ownership, management, mobilising resources and advancing low-cost credit without need for external collateral. In Zambia, SACCOs integration is low,
hence the impetus for this research. The target population included adult-age
Zambians and the sample was derived using multistage and simple random sampling
techniques. Adopting a quantitative approach, data was gathered using a
questionnaire. ANOVA tests on the statistical significance between the
independent and dependent variables were F (8,
269) = 505.92, p < 0.05. Research findings reveal strong, positive relationship between the use of SACCOs and awareness education, financial literacy, societal
influence, governance, and government regulation, while the use of SACCOs and income had a significantly negative correlation. The correlation between age and gender and use of SACCOs was not significant. The study
recommends that the government takes strategic leadership in reviving the SACCO
sector through awareness education and enacting enforceable legislation to
govern SACCOs. Communities should be empowered to drive the integration process
and employers encouraged to adopt SACCOs in their organizational strategies
given the SACCOs’ national impact and strategic role.
Share and Cite:
Shilimi, M. (2021) Examining Challenges Leading to Low Integration of Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies (SACCOs) in National Economies: A Study of Zambia.
Open Journal of Business and Management,
9, 1338-1366. doi:
10.4236/ojbm.2021.93073.