Analysis of factors influencing financial performance of savings and credit co-operative societies in Lesotho: Evidence from Maseru district

Abstract

SACCOS play a major role of providing financial access to poor people who are excluded from the services of Formal Financial Institutions (FFIs). However, they also face number of challenges which may affect their performance. Most of the previous studies in the area of SACCOS did not concentrate on their performance. The aim of this study therefore was to assess performance of SACCOS in Maseru District, Lesotho. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design where data were collected at one point in time. A sample size of 369 respondents was computed by the use of formula by Yamane (1967). Respondents in the sample were selected by using simple random sampling technique. However, respondents from individual SACCOS were proportional to the total number of members in particular SACCOS. This was done in order to make the sample representative of all SACCOS in the study area. Analyses of data were done by using different techniques which include: mathematical equations (i to vii); different financial ratios; tables; graphs; bar charts and other types of descriptive statistics like mode and percentages. It was found that socio economic characteristics of members were supportive to financial performance of the SACCOS. Furthermore, SACCOS in the study area achieved high performance in terms of ratios of members’ capital; loan delinquency; volumes of savings in the SACCOS; and growth of total assets. On the other hand, the SACCOS realised poor financial performance in terms of ratio of fixed assets to total assets; and share capital owned by members.