'Now we can stand on our own'
How communities in southeastern Zimbabwe are building resilience through small, local savings groups and a common household product.
“We asked ourselves what we could build together. We started by saving small amounts together. Then we asked ourselves what we could create as a group that would help us earn income consistently."
Monica Dambamuromo
A common product, an uncommon story
A small container of petroleum jelly is passed carefully between community members gathered beneath a tree in Chibuwe, a village in Ward 20, in the southeastern Zimbabwean district of Chipinge.
At first glance, it looks like any ordinary jar of petroleum jelly.
But for members of the Ruzivo Village Savings and Lending Association (VSLA), the small blue-and-white container represents something far bigger than a household product.
It represents resilience.
In a district where drought, failed harvests and economic uncertainty have become part of daily life, it tells a story about communities finding new ways to adapt and rebuild.
Why petroleum jelly?
The decision came after careful discussion and local market research as a group of local women explored different business opportunities before selecting petroleum jelly production.
What they learned was that the start-up costs were manageable; the product was already widely used within the community and there was a reliable local market.
Today, every member participates in the enterprise. Raw materials are sourced from the city of Mutare before being processed at a designated group member's homestead.
All members have been trained in production and rotate responsibilities through a roster system that covers sourcing materials, production, packaging and sales.
The petroleum jelly is sold throughout the local community, including in households, at a nearby clinic and by students at a local boarding school. Demand continues to exceed current production levels.
Together, members purchased ingredients, learned production techniques and identified local markets. Today, the group sells petroleum jelly within the community, generating income that helps members meet household needs and reduce dependence on uncertain farming seasons.
Why even small livelihoods projects like this one are so critical: Life on the frontline of climate change
Located in eastern Zimbabwe near the Mozambique border, Chipinge District has long depended on rain-fed agriculture.
But climate change is reshaping life here.
Recurring droughts, unpredictable rainfall and prolonged dry spells have steadily reduced harvests and weakened livelihoods. Families that once relied on farming now face growing uncertainty from season to season.
Many rivers have become seasonal and harvests have become unreliable. For many households, recovery from one shock is interrupted by the arrival of another.
These are all reasons that a consistent, reliable source of revenue and livelihood is so critical to local households.
A community bank without a bank
To make matters even more challenging, communities like Chipinge do not have access to safe, secure banking services that many other around the world take for granted.
For many families in Chipinge, formal banking services and conventional loans are out of reach. The creation of Village Savings and Lending Associations has offered a locally owned alternative.
Here's how it works: Each association consists of around 10 members who meet regularly and contribute agreed amounts into a shared fund.
Guided by a constitution developed and approved by members themselves, the groups elect leaders, keep simple records and collectively manage savings and loans.
The money is held by a designated treasurer selected by the group, while loan decisions are made transparently according to rules agreed by all members.
Members can borrow money from the pooled fund to invest in small businesses, farming activities or household needs, repaying the loans with interest that benefits the entire group.
At the end of each savings cycle, accumulated savings and profits are shared among members or invested into collective priorities identified by the group.
For communities often considered "unbankable" by formal financial institutions, the model creates access to financial services using resources already available within the community.
"It is our own money helping us solve our own problems," one member explains.
Saving together and building resilience from within
Through the Southern Africa Compounded Crisis (SACC) initiative, implemented by Zimbabwe Red Cross Society with support from IFRC and Netherlands Red Cross, Village Savings and Lending groups are helping households strengthen financial resilience through collective savings, loans and locally led business initiatives.
The concept is simple.
Members save together regularly.
The savings are pooled.
Loans are issued.
Businesses emerge.
But the impact reaches far beyond money.
These groups are becoming community-led resilience systems.
More than an income
The profits may seem small. But their impact is significant. Members say the income has helped them contribute towards school fees, groceries, farming inputs and household expenses. For many women, it has also created greater financial independence.
"We are no longer just waiting for our husbands to provide everything," Monica says. "We are contributing too."
Beyond the financial benefits, the groups have become spaces where members support one another through difficult periods and share ideas for strengthening their livelihoods.
Resilience means more than money
In Ward 28, VSLA member Gilbert Moyo says the group's ambitions extend beyond savings.
"Our goal is not only to save money," he explains. "We want every member of this group to eventually have a proper latrine at home because resilience is also about health, dignity and protecting our families from disease."
His comments reflect a wider shift taking place across Chipinge. Communities increasingly understand that livelihoods, food security, sanitation and health are interconnected. Resilience is no longer viewed simply as recovering after a crisis. It is about reducing vulnerability before the next one arrives.
Looking ahead
Now, local association members are hoping to grow their initiatives. During an SACC profiling mission conducted in May 2026, community members repeatedly spoke about expansion.
Expanding production.
Growing savings.
Supporting more households.
Building stronger communities.
The conversation was not about surviving the next drought. It was about planning for the future.
Back in Chibuwe, another container of petroleum jelly changes hands as group members discuss their next steps.
Monica pauses briefly before smiling.
"Before, we were only trying to survive," she says.
"Now we can stand on our own."
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