VIRL: Changing lives one enterprise at a time in Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe

VIRL: Changing lives one enterprise at a time in Zimbabwe

Jane Mukura owns a textile and clothing company called Star Investments where she produces school uniforms. Her achievements and hardworking efforts have continued to contribute in the local economic spectrum.

through the BOOSTA loans from Viability Intergrity Reliability Long Lasting Relationships (VIRL) Microfinance  Jane’s business has grown steadily and her household has been doing just fine. She has employed an additional two tailors so as to meet the growing demand of her uniforms; Star Investments’ staff compliment is now 6 (inclusive of Jane and her husband). Recently she opened another outlet where one of her daughters is managing. The daughter is also sewing and they have hopes that they are going to open up more outlets.

From proceeds from her business Jane managed to purchase assortments of rolls of textile, a sewing machine, a family car and a Kombi. She has also managed to build a house from the same proceeds. Besides getting a loan Jane also learned the use of ICT through working with VIRL and she is now enjoying the benefits technology in the comfort of her home. Before doing business with VIRL Mrs Jane Mukura did not bother to have a Bank account let alone considered the possibility that the mobile banking platform, Eco-Cash, can be used to do various transactions other than Cash-Out. She opened a texta cash account at our offices. She highlighted that she would like to open a joint account together with her husband which will be used for company business. She also uses eco-cash biller platform to pay all the 6 instalments of her loans. Jane is looking forward to acquiring a Point of Sale (POS) machine so that purchases would flow smoothly through the use of plastic money.

 

Jane Mukura (left) showing off her sewing skills