By Solister Mogha

Zomba, October 5, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) on Thursday engaged community leaders in Zomba to discuss the organization’s aspirations and challenges in the course of disbursing loans to the underserved population.

NEEF Chief Executive Officer, Humphrey Mdyetseni, said the meeting was a follow up to the previous meeting held in April this year where it was agreed that quarterly meetings should be conducted for updates.

“Sharing experience is of paramount importance hence this meeting. From this meeting, we expect to have constructive ideas that will improve NEEF operations,” he said.

Zomba City Mayor, Christopher Jana, hailed NEEF for organizing the meeting, which, he said, would iron out some of the impending challenges for people to access loans.

He observed that there is a lot that needs to be addressed despite NEEF’s contribution in empowering Malawians economically citing delays in disbursing loans to applicants.

“Sometimes we wonder if NEEF is really meant for Malawians.  It takes long for people to access loans and this is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Jana said.

Jana, therefore, expressed hope that NEEF will take into consideration all the concerns raised during the meeting for the benefit of the underserved Malawians that aspire to be economically stable through NEEF loans.  

Members of Parliament in Zomba, ward councilors, chiefs and business people were among those who attended the meeting.

So far, NEEF has disbursed K237 billion and the repayment is at 81 percent.

NEEF is a government owned microfinance institution whose mission is to economically empower ordinary and underserved Malawians