Shared Interest Society have provided affordable finance to Zimbabwe based Dezign Inc since 2003.  Dezign Incs Export Manager, Daina Dube, has sent an update on the current difficulties this producer group are facing.

“It has been six weeks after the historic signing of power sharing on the 15^th of September 2008 agreement.   Even though the two main political parties agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding, nothing has been finalized in the power sharing deal which was aimed at ending the deepening country’s political, economic and social crisis. The country is almost at coming to a stand still with industry and health fraternity affected the most.

The allocation of some ministries remained contentious mainly between ZANU PF AND MDC –T.  Further talks to resolve brokered by former SA President Mbeki proved fruitless, and were further referred to the SADC Troika meeting convened in Swaziland, but the Zimbabwe issue was not discussed. There have been some major disagreements between the parties concerning the allocation of the ministry of Home Affairs. The latest update from a meeting held over the weekend concluded that the ministry be shared between the parties. However it has been revealed that the opposition is not agreeing to this proposal and has refused to form the government.

The official year-on year inflation  running well over 231 million percent for September , and the general populace living by far less than 1US$ a day, will be subjected to yet another period of extreme stress until a political resolution is reached.   The operating environment continues to deteriorate on the background of runway prices across the board.  The partial dollarization of the economy has resulted in virtually all  economic agents asking for foreign currency or Zimbabwean dollar cash for goods and services (even for locally produced goods). We are now in a dollarised economy and it is becoming harder and harder for the ordinary worker.  As a result, we have taken a break for 3 weeks with a skeleton staff to answer calls and take orders from customers.  We hope that things will normalize within this period.”

TRAIDCRAFT SOWING THE SEED OF GOODWILL

Every good deed is a door opener.  Every act of genuine kindness never escapes God’s notice. These words best describe the mood of Dezign Inc employees after receiving a digital camera bought by the Traidcraft Producer Support Fund.

“This donation has led to improved business efficiency and communication with customers, especially product images, and website development.  Before this purchase, Dezign Inc was hiring the services of a digital camera and this support re-confirms the practice of Fair trade principles by Traidcraft plc

Jivas  the Head of Art Department said “We will guard this camera jealously as we are now able to capture more images and pictures to be used in telling stories on the impact of Fair trade on ourselves as well as timeously sending images to our customers.  The days of waiting for a camera from outside are over!”

A special thank you goes to Catharine Howe for coordinating the purchase of this digital camera.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation