Resilience of traditional african co-operatives amidst foreign co-operatives: a reflection on traditional co-operative organisations in the sukuma communities of Tanzania

Abstract

A cooperative organisation is considered to be resilient when it demonstrates ability to adjust to shocks or mitigate their effects while taking advantage of emerging opportunities and maintaining adherence to basic cooperative values and principles. This paper hypothesises that the resilience of traditional cooperatives in most African communities, even after introduction of foreign pattern of cooperatives, is an indication that some members of the respective communities still value them and that if promoted according to universally acceptable cooperative values and principles, would develop into more sustainable cooperatives than foreign cooperatives. The colonial pattern of cooperatives enforced in Africa was introduced to aid European settlers or to drag local people into externally controlled monetised economy, where they could easily be taxed and produce for the export markets. The pattern discourages traditional cooperatives while emphasising on government-controlled cooperatives. Amidst hostile environment, African traditional cooperatives continue to attract more rural youths as they continue to withstand measures aiming at stifling their development. This study analyses values in the Sukuma youth traditional cooperatives of Tanzania in relation with the ICA cooperative values and finds out that they are generally matching.Lastly, it recommends that African governments should formalise and promote indigenous traditional cooperatives because they are youths inclusive, are based on universally acceptable cooperative values and may reflect the true African cooperative society.