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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