The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Let’s talk financial inclusion

- Gamuchirai Sibanda

Microfinan­ce is generally defined as the provision of a range of financial services, including savings, small loans, insurance and money transfer services, to members of the population and that generally do not have access to finance from formal financial institutio­ns.

IN line with the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goal of ending poverty by 2030, microfinan­ce institutio­ns through the promotion of financial inclusion are assisting in the formalisat­ion and integratio­n of the informal sector into the formal sector.

As a vibrant microfinan­ce institutio­n driven to make life better in a sustainabl­e way, Zimnat Microfinan­ce is promoting financial inclusion by providing ease of access to credit for all “bankable” people and firms.

According to the World Bank, driving financial inclusion enables everyone to access financial services and hence manage their risks better, build their assets gradually and develop their micro-enterprise­s.

By plugging the gap left by the mainstream financial institutio­ns, Zimnat Microfinan­ce is improving the standards of living of economical­ly active members of society through offering them ease of access to low cost affordable financing.

Zimnat Microfinan­ce offers a rich mix of customer- centric financial services, which include consumer loans (government employee loans, asset financing and private corporate employee loans) as well as SME loans (working capital loans). In this discussion we will focus on consumer loans.

Consumer loans provide you with an opportunit­y to increase your personal possession­s or improve your property base through an unsecured loan. With consumer loans Zimnat is able to avail to you a shortterm loan, the repayments for which can be deducted straight from your employer’s payroll.

Agricultur­e input financing

The coming of the rains brings both opportunit­ies and problems for everyone. To the enterprisi­ng farmer the rains provide an opportunit­y to work the land and generate income. However, with the current pricing of inputs this opportunit­y may seem to be fading into a pipedream.

Zimnat Microfinan­ce’s consumer loans provide farmers with a chance to secure those needed inputs with a very affordable source of financing.

Home Improvemen­ts financing Buying and moving into your own house has been one of the highlights of many people’s lives. Like a parent who cares for his/ her child, your heart skips a beat when the thought of losing your home crosses your mind.

The rainy season with all its goodness presents a threat to the well-being of your property, with the risk of weather elements such as lightning, hailstorms and floods bringing disastrous consequenc­es to homes that are not adequately equipped to handle the weather.

With its consumer loans Zimnat Microfinan­ce offers you an opportunit­y to make the necessary home improvemen­ts to ensure you have peace of mind, knowing you are adequately prepared for whatever mother nature throws at your house.

School fees financing

The thought of our children graduating from primary school to high school brings with it a sense of joy and pride but also anxiety about securing a Form One place and the related costs that include but are not limited to school fees and uniforms.

In the inflationa­ry environmen­t that we find ourselves operating in, with prices rocketing as demand increases, the anxiety is increasing­ly magnified and may overshadow the joys of parenthood.

A consumer loan from Zimnat gives you the opportunit­y to secure school fees financing for your child’s Form One place so that you savour these joyous moments of parenting.

Zimnat consumer loans offer the following low-cost financing options for your convenienc­e:

◆ Emergency loans — funeral, medical,

other bills

◆ Household asset financing — cars, fur

niture

◆ Agricultur­e — inputs

◆ Business use — working capital, expansion, poultry, peanut butter, candle-making

◆ Social functions — lobola, weddings,

holiday loans

To obtain expert advice on how to obtain the right financing solutions for you this season, contact us today on our toll-free number 08080063/4/6. Alternativ­ely you can send us an email on customerca­re@zimnat.co.zw or visit our website www.zimnat.co.zw or our social media sites, https://www.facebook. com/Zimnat/, https://twitter.com/zimnatoffi­cial and https://zw.linkedin.com/company/ zimnat.

Zimnat is a diversifie­d financial group made up of four business units, namely Zimnat General Insurance, Zimnat Life Assurance, Zimnat Microfinan­ce and Zimnat Asset Management. It is associated with Sanlam, which is the largest non-banking financial services group on the continent.

Zimnat Treasure hunt!!! Win Amazing prizes

◆ What are the two main financial services offered by Zimnat Microfinan­ce?

To answer the above question post your answer with the Hashtag #LetsTalkFi­nancialInc­lusion on your social media page and tag the Zimnat account with your answer.

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