Investigating Factors Limiting Access to Finances for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). A Case Study of Chibombo District in Zambia
Abstract:
Micro-Small-Medium- Enterprises (MSMEs) in Zambia
contribute significantly to the socio-economy of the country, contributing to
over 70 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 88 percent of employment, and
97 percent of business. According to the Bank of Zambia, three out of five
business fail within months of operation and other remain stagnant for a long
period of time without any significant growth. One of the causes of failure of
MSMEs has be attribute to lack of finance. Several reports have indicated lack
of access to finance such as credit facilities from lending institutions has
led to most of the failures. The study aimed at establishing the reasons for
lack of access to credit facilities with objectives of understanding
accessibility to credit facility for MSMEs in Chibombo district, specific
reasons for failure to access credit facilities by MSMEs in Chibombo district
and also establishing solutions to failure to accessibility of loans in
Chibombo district. The study involved a mixed method approach, Qualitative and
Quantitative approach, with a sample size of 30 respondents from major MSMEs
categories across Chibombo district, who were interviewed in line with research
objectives. A thematic approach was used to analyze qualitative and percentages
of respondents who had access to credit facilities was computed for qualitative
data. The results indicated that 20 percent (6/30) of the sampled MSMEs had access to
finance through loan from a Microfinance. A significantly low percentage. The
results also indicated collateral requirements, high interest rates, lack of
aware and politicization of government schemes as barriers to credit facilities
accessibility.
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