The African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Africa’s SACCO ecosystem through strategic leadership and reforms, as more than 120 cooperative leaders from the Southern Bloc gathered recently in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 2026 Regional Forum.
The forum, hosted by the Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (MUSCCO), brought together SACCO and credit union leaders to deliberate on building resilient and sustainable cooperative institutions through stronger governance, innovative processes, and transformative leadership.
ACCOSCA Board Chairperson Jeanette Makgolo underscored the organisation’s role in strengthening SACCOs across the continent amid a rapidly changing operating environment. Delivering the ACCOSCA message, Executive Director George Ombado highlighted the strategic position of SACCOs in advancing Africa’s socio‑economic transformation.
Ombado urged cooperators to remain committed to cooperative finance as a vehicle for financial inclusion, SME support, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, and climate‑resilient investments.
In her remarks, Charity Munganga, Deputy Inspector General of the Zambia Police Service and Chairperson of Zambia Police Thrift SACCO, challenged leaders to leverage ACCOSCA’s professional development initiatives to restore public trust in SACCOs.
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Simon Itaye, who was the chief guest and the Malawi Cabinet Minister for Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, recognised ACCOSCA as a leading reform partner driving cooperative transformation across Africa. He emphasised the critical role of national associations in contextualising and implementing reforms within their jurisdictions.
The Johannesburg forum followed successful bloc meetings earlier in the year in Banjul, The Gambia, and Mombasa, Kenya, underlining ACCOSCA’s strategy of convening regional platforms to unite cooperative leaders, regulators, policymakers, and practitioners.
ACCOSCA said the regional forums remain important strategic platforms for addressing emerging challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Africa’s cooperative financial sector. ahead of the 2027 regional engagements.
By Masaki Enock
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