Triza: Trailblazer in women empowerment

 By Kondwani Nyondo

Staff Writer

Childhood dreams have a way of shaping destinies. 

 From a young age, Triza Tsiga Magret envisioned a world where women had greater opportunities, their voices heard, and their potential fully realized. 

 Now, as the Chief Executive Officer of Mudi Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), she is living that vision—championing change and empowerment for women across Malawi and beyond. 

Born in Kachere Village, Salima District, Triza is the fourth of ten children in the Tsiga family. 

Her father, Elias Tsiga, was a banker, a profession that led to frequent relocations, shaping her exposure to different communities. 


She attended several primary schools, including Boma in Kasungu, Katoto in Mzuzu, and St. Pious Girls in Blantyre, before completing her secondary education at Phwadzi in Chikwawa and Davie Girls in Kasungu. 

“It was during my childhood that I first observed women working tirelessly, selling merchandise while carrying their children on their backs. Their resilience inspired me, and I realized they only needed financial support to grow their businesses,” she recalls. 

Her curiosity about financial challenges led to conversations with her father, who emphasized the importance of mathematics in pursuing a career in finance. 

Taking his advice to heart, Triza excelled in the subject and later enrolled at the Malawi College of Accountancy (MCA) in 1997, earning a diploma in 1998. 

Triza’s career began at the Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (MUSCCO), where she worked as a cashier. 

Her dedication saw her rise through various roles, including Finance Officer, SACCO Financial Protection Plan Officer, Inspection and Examination Officer, and Business Development Officer. 

While at MUSCCO, she pursued further studies, completing ACCA Professional Part 2. 

In 2009, Triza participated in the Women Mentorship Program by the Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario and went on to get  a bachelor’s degree in accounting before  a master’s in financial management from Atlantic International University, USA. 

 She joined Mudi Sacco as general manager.

In 2023, she rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer at Mudi SACCO. 

Under her leadership, spanning 10-years, the cooperative has experienced remarkable growth, with assets increasing by 2,870 percent with membership which has grown by 855 percent. 

 She said loan defaults have also a significant drop during her leadership from 40 percent to just one percent in a decade. 

Triza says, after joining Mudi Sacco she introduced Mayi Watsogolo, a loan product designed to enhance women's access to financial support. 

“The initiative was tailored to support women in small-scale businesses, enabling them to become financially independent,” she explains. 

She says,she has always wanted to increase women's membership to 50 percent of the SACCO's total membership, and her efforts have borne fruit, with a significant rise in female participation.

In 2014, Triza’s initiative was presented at the Global Women’s Leadership Network forum in Gold Coast, Australia, solidifying her role as a leader in inclusive finance. 

Through her efforts, thousands of women have accessed business loans and financial literacy programs, helping them expand their enterprises and achieve financial stability. 

Beyond loans, Triza organizes capacity-building workshops and financial education initiatives. 

“I often meet women struggling to access funding, using personal savings or borrowing at high-interest rates. Many end up in financial distress, unable to sustain their businesses,” she notes. 

Her participation in global financial conferences has boosted support for her initiatives, allowing her to implement broader programs advocating for financial inclusion and gender equality. 

Her women initiatives have earned her numerous accolades. 

 In 2018, she received the African Development Educator Award in Gambia and another in 2019 where she  was honored by the Global Women’s Leadership Network as the first volunteer to establish Sister Society in Africa, an initiative promoting women’s leadership in finance.

A dedicated professional and family woman, Triza is married with four daughters.

She credits her ability to balance career and family life to setting clear boundaries, establishing priorities, and maintaining routines.

However, she emphasizes that her journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support of her family.

"From my parents and siblings to my husband, their support has been instrumental in my success. They have helped me go far and make a name for myself," she said.

Beyond the awards, Triza's work in financial inclusion has taken her across the globe, representing women in various capacities.

Between 2023 and 2024 alone, she attended over six international conferences.

"One of the most memorable events was the Global Conference, where I delivered a keynote speech advocating for gender equality and financial inclusion within the cooperative movement. Another significant moment was at the 2023 Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, where I spoke at the Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.," she recalled.

Most recently, she has been nominated for the Women Achievers Africa (WAA) Country Reps Impact Award 2025, further cementing her role as a trailblazer in women’s empowerment.

Triza is also a Certified Financial Coach accredited by ACCOSCA, a Financial Coach trained in Arusha, Tanzania, and a Certified International Development Educator, a title she earned in Boston, USA.

Her aspirations include pursuing a PhD and establishing a thriving business that continues her legacy of community empowerment through finance and leadership. 

Her advice to young women is to believe in themselves, work hard, and pursue big dreams fearlessly. 

“I want women to know they are capable of achieving great things. They should support one another, stand tall, and take bold steps toward financial independence,” she concludes.

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