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Some burial societies in Africa now focus on helping the living, too

In Kuwadzana, a township in Harare, the Kuchemana Burial Society has expanded beyond funeral planning to offer grocery savings and small-business loans, supporting its 40 members navigating financial hardship.
Dating to the early 20th century, burial societies traditionally ensured dignified funerals for migrant workers, but Midlands State University lecturer Sharon Chilunjika notes banks now refuse lending to the poor and unemployed, forcing communities to expand these trusted institutions.
Members pay $3 monthly for funeral coverage and $10 for a collective savings club, receiving $150 cash payouts at death and access to loans at 20% interest, with profits shared yearly among members.
Melisa Kasu, a former hardware shop employee laid off in 2022, received $100 from the savings cycle in December and used it to launch a cooking gas business, now affording monthly groceries and self-maintenance.
Reflecting a broader pattern across Africa, groups derived from the Shona phrase meaning 'mourning one another' increasingly strive to improve members' lives while alive, addressing rising costs and limited bank access across the continent.

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Zimbabwe's burial societies evolve to offer help to the living

Funerals are never easy for families mourning their loss. They can also be a moment of financial stress. In Zimbabwe, some people are turning to burial societies for help. Those societies are now also helping the living pay for daily expenses.

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