The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE Ngoda oven is regarded by many as just another kitchen apparatus that serves an averagely meaningful purpose.
However, to the Advance Women’s Club in Nyanga, the oven’s worth is equivalent to that of diamonds as it has empowered them and changed their livelihoods.
To this group, the Ngoda oven brought hope as they no longer struggle to make ends meet.
The oven uses cheaper and traditional sources of energy like firewood, cow dung, maize cobs and charcoal.
It is normally used to bake bread, buns and cakes.
The stove is being used for income generating projects in various cities, towns and at growth points across the country.
In an interview, the club’s vice chairperson, Mrs Sithulisiwe Simbi (45) of Nyatate Village under Chief Saunyama’s area said had they known that the oven would change their lives for the better, they would have started using it earlier.
The Advance Women’s Club was formed in 2021.
The group comprises of 11 women and one man and it specialises in baking buns for sale.
“The benefits derived from this small oven are very high. Previously we were financially dependent on our husbands but that is no longer the case. We are now empowered women who chip in when it comes to finances in the household,” said Mrs Simbi.
She said the group embarked on the bakery project after one of the members’ sons told them about the Ngoda oven.
“We were just like any other community group and would collect money from each other every fortnight. We would then share the money at the end of the year.
“A member’s son who had come for the holiday then jokingly told us about the Ngoda oven and how we could become millionaires with it,” she laughed.
Afterwards, the group decided to buy the oven and try their luck in plain buns making.
The idea has been extremely successful and has put the club on the map when it comes to small businesses in Nyanga.
Another club member, Mrs Jessina Mautsa (50) said their youngest member is 30 years old while the oldest is 70 years old.
“We are not selective when it comes to age, we want everyone to be empowered. The name is Advance Women’s Club since there were women only when we started the club. However, we do not mind having men on board. As long as someone is interested, they can join us,” said Mrs Mautsa.
“When we established this club, we were seeking to empower ourselves and we have done more than what we imagined. It is still a backyard bakery which is yet to be registered but we are hoping to register soon,” she explained.
The Ngoda oven produces at least 360 buns at a time.
It takes about 15 minutes to bake the 360 buns.
Group members said they currently have the capacity to produce at least 10 000 buns a day.
“We are paying our children’s school fees from this small Ngoda oven. The stove can also produce cakes and bread but we decided to specialise in plain buns making after realising that those need less ingredients.
“Ten plain buns cost a dollar. We need a few kilograms of flour to produce buns worth US$500 and believe you me, on a really good day, we make that much,” said Mrs Mautsa.
She said their market is very wide as it includes schools and business premises.
The Ngoda stove
The club is also supplying some small shops in Nyanga at wholesale price for resale to consumers.
“We hope that in the future, we will be able to buy another stove so that we meet the demand for buns. We want to get into boarding schools and hospitals and supply them with our products.
“Some schools have been asking if we can supply them daily but as it is, we are only using one stove and cannot meet that demand,” she said.
She went on to appeal for more capital to expand their business.
“There is a huge demand for buns but we do not have the capacity to buy more flour, sugar and the other ingredients. However, if we could get a loan, we will be able to pay it back because we bake high quality buns,” she said confidently.
Business people at Nyatate and Tendanayi Business Centres confirmed that the buns from the club’s mini-bakery are of good quality.
Shop owner, Mr Jeshua Manyoni said the plain buns he orders from the group sell themselves as they do not require advertising.
“We are in the rural areas and customers are hard to come by. However, the rate at which people hurry to buy these buns is something else. Maybe it is because they are cheap and tasty,” he said.
