From Ukara Island to founding CEO of Tanzania Women’s Bank

Originally from Ukara Island, one of the many Lake Victoria islands forming Ukerewe District in Mwanza Region, Ms Margareth Mataba Chacha is the fourth born in the then typical African family when numbers mattered – 12 siblings from the same father and mother. Thus, young Margareth was raised in a traditional African way before she moved to Tabora Region where her uncle was working, giving her an opportunity to study. Her career path has been tantalising, to say the least. From being the first female to open a new branch together with other five males and to hold the post of Branch Manager with the then Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (CRDB), Margareth rose to become the bank’s Eastern Zone Director covering Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Lindi and Mtwara regions.

In the next two years (1998/99) she was promoted to Banking Director at CRDB Headquarters before joining UNDP Tanzania and later the first United Nations mission in South Sudan, where she served for two years. When she returned to Tanzania after serving at UNDP for eight years, then President of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was scouting for someone with requisite qualifications and experience to head the country’s first women’s bank. She was the suitable choice. What motivated her throughout her successful and worth emulating career? She says when you believe in yourself other people will also believe in you and this has been the secret behind her success. Who’s who Tanzania interviewed her so that she shares more about this secret and below is what she said.

Who’s who Tanzania: Can you start by telling us about yourself and your early childhood?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: Well, my name is Margareth Mataba Chacha. Mataba is my father’s name and Chacha is my husband’s name. I am the fourth born from a family of 12 children. On the girls I am the third born. Yes, we are a team plus a reserve (smiling), same father and mother. As you can see when you are coming from a big family you tend to compete, you have to shout loud to be seen or else you are swallowed. It is a good family and my childhood was good. What I remember or what I was told was that I was big and too heavy to the extent that everybody would run away from carrying me.

Otherwise we came from a loving family, our upbringing was very fair as we were being taken care of by our loving dad and mum and we never went without food. In 1960 my uncle came home to marry and wanted his sister to give him one of her children to go with him and give company to his wife because as Railways Ticket Officer my uncle travelled a lot and, therefore, feared his wife would stay lonely at home. As usual my mum wanted her son to go with his brother, knowing that her brother would take care of her son and her son would be able to go to a good school. But my grandfather refused, insisting that he wanted his family, especially boys to remain and be raised home by no one else except himself. My brother who was the first boy in our family was a darling to my grandfather.

Who’s who Tanzania: It sounds that your grandfather was a very authoritative person?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: My grandfather was Chief of Ukara Island in Lake Victoria, the second biggest island after Ukerewe and also one of the many islands that make up Ukerewe District. Actually, we used to joke that Ukerewe Island had Chief Lukumbuzya who thought he was big enough to command the other chiefs, but my grandfather refused saying: “there’ is no way, I have my territory, you have your territory, we are equal”. He used to use a Kikara saying which goes: Omutayo gutaitaya manji mumtayo gundi (which translated into Kiswahili: Kata moja haichoti maji ndani ya kata nyingine) and in English it means that “it’s impossible for a person of equal rank in a group of equals to behave as if he is superior or more important than his equals.” He, therefore, commanded with power, and I am told even the Germans couldn’t push him around he would wait for them to sit before he appeared for a meeting.

Who’s who Tanzania: Would you kindly tell us about your educational journey?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: I was happy to be in Tabora where I started my schooling when I was 7 years old. My school was one of those at the time was known as TAPA schools (those owned by the Parents’ Wing of TANU). We didn’t have even desks, so we were seating on the floor. However, and in view of my overall outlook towards school, that did not bother me at all. But when I got to Standard Four, mind you, at that time it was not an easy task to pass the Standard Four Examinations. I proceed to Standard Five and I was already old enough and I understood well what I was doing. We sat for the Standard Four Examinations, but the results were not released. This was because the government had decided to abolish the Standard Four Examinations. To me it was a painful decision.

Who’s who Tanzania: Then, what happened after the abolition of Standard Four Examinations?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: I really wanted to go to school. I went to some government offices, including the office of the Regional Education Officer, requesting to be allocated to another school. He laughed! Actually, he couldn’t believe the zeal for education I displayed at such young age. What was more painful was that by then I was late as most of the government schools were already full, so he had to ask if my uncle or my dad could pay for a private school. I agreed because I knew my uncle was working and loved me and I knew he would not hesitate to pay for me. So, the Regional Education Officer gave me a note to go to one of the private schools HR Primary School. But he advised me, saying I shouldn’t proceed to Standard Five because the school was English medium and that I should instead repeat Standard Four to be able to catch up on the language. After admission I realised that the type of discipline I was used to in my previous public school and what I found at the private school was akin to entering another world.

I, however, managed to cope and even became the school head girl. From there I passed my examinations and went to another Tabora-based Kazima Secondary School which was a co-education school. The school had a students’ hostel, but I opted to stay at home and for the next four years I had to abide by a tight schedule. I would wake up very early in the morning, clean up the house and prepare children to go to school before going to school myself. During lunch time I would go back home and sometimes I would find the dishes not done and I would cook and then wash the dishes. But when time was up, I would just run back to school without eating. After classes I would come back to the familiar routine which I didn’t find difficult to cope with. But whoever came to visit our family could not believe how I was managing the situation.

Who’s who Tanzania: Being such an extremely busy child did it not affect your performance in class?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: My school performance was neither bad nor very good, but I maintained my single digit position. I didn’t go below 10 and, of course, I was not number one, but I was lucky and happy to be in that position with all those challenges. It was quite a challenge because when I went to my ancestral home, I realised all my family members were brilliant. Going through their school reports I found that their performance was excellent, which made me think that if I failed whom would I talk to. I decided that there was no other way out except to work hard and pass. Besides this I was appointed a class prefect and I remember how I used to challenge boys. There is one Member of Parliament whose name I can’t mention, who had to beat me up because I challenged him in Mathematics! He used to pass all the time, but this time I passed and he couldn’t take it and he started beating me up. I remember two girls came to help me. He was very much annoyed, a man being beaten by a girl (laughter). It is clear that it was not easy for girls to cope with boys at times!
Yes, but I was not afraid of anybody.

I remember those days boys were scared to come to us to ask for friendship. They would just send someone, but we knew their psychology by then, they were kind of cowards. The trick I used was: If someone is sent to me I would say: “Go and tell him I love him so much. I just don’t know how to start.” Such a statement used to make boys run away and never come to me (laughter). That made my life very easy because I did not want to be diverted from my studies. For my advanced level studies I went to Tabora Girls Secondary School. This was a boarding school and I got cultural shock. Besides that the school had been elevated to an army school whereby they made us run and sweat while going to eat. But after a short time I got used to it. There was Tabora Boys School which was also a military school and both schools were very close to each other. Yes, it was fun and good.

Who’s who Tanzania: What did you gain from a military school?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: I remember telling myself that while I suffered during my advanced level studies, I would not allow myself to experience similar suffering during compulsory National Service after completing Form Six. That was what I did. I pretended to be sick so I was assigned to a farm to feed chickens. I was even asking boys to carry a bag of chicken feed, pretending I was sick. One day when my classmates were training how to use a gun they were heard saying in one voice: “No, no, even the sick ones should come. We want them also to know how to use the gun.” There was one funny military trainer who wanted to use me like a laughing-stock of the class. He didn’t know that I knew guns. So, he said, “OK. Now you line up and compete.” First, they dismantled the guns for us and each one of us had to put hers together. I was the first one to cock the gun, and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Do it again,” he ordered me and I was again the first to cock it. But everybody was shouting except me. I dismantled and re-assembled it, then my colleagues started saying that I was coming from a military school (laughter). He couldn’t believe it, and wondered why I did not tell him. Then, he even started doubting that I was sick. During the one year of national service there was one incident I can’t forget. This was in 1977 at Ruvu Camp, where the authorities did not want me to be relocated to another camp. They wanted me to stay there and cook for army officers. But I didn’t want to. I just said, “No. I didn’t come for national service to cook.” I told a friend of mine Margareth Mziray, who is now in Mwanza as the Registrar for Land for the Lake Zone. I said to her, “Carry my bag and put it in your truck.” As the truck was about to leave, I said that was the chance for me to jump into the truck as we were used to those big trucks with a rope. So, as they were warming up the truck ready to leave, I jumped into the truck and there I was. From there I went to Itende Camp in Mbeya where I completed my six-month compulsory national service.

Who’s who Tanzania: What followed after your National Service?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: During those days there was a government directive that after completing A Level studies, one could not proceed to the university before working first. So, I was posted to Kivukoni Ideological College in Dar es Salaam where I worked as a research assistant. I earned good money and I’m lucky that the teachers really liked my work and at times they were even sending me to President Julius Nyerere, the Founding President of Tanzania, when he was writing his books. They were sending me to deliver drafts for proof reading and I would take them to college. It was at this college that I had the opportunity to meet many prominent personalities, such as Wilson Mukama, who rose to become Secretary General of CCM and Ambassador Daudi Mwakawago who was the Head of the College by then. Surely, the time that I spent at the college between 1978 and 1980 earned me a lot of experience. I then joined the University of Dar es Salaam in 1980 and chose to pursue a degree in Sociology Industrial Relations. My choice of the course was based on the fact that it was covering a mixture of disciplines like economics, research, statistics and legal practice.

Who’s who Tanzania: Can you briefly tell us about your journey from the time you left the university to become one of the few successful and inspirational icons in the country?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: In my final year at the university, my dissertation paper was on the subject: “Life in Tanzania after retirement.”
That prompted authorities to decide that I was suitable for employment in Social Security and was posted to the National Provident Fund (NPF) now National Social Security Fund (NSSF). There, I was Head of the Penalty Unit which was responsible for penalising employers who were late to submit workers’ contributions. I was the one who proposed that we visit employers and sensitise them on the need to deliver workers’ contributions on time as I did not believe in penalising people. It worked well as the response was good. I was then transferred to the Planning Section which was responsible for issuing loans and access projects.

It was while I was in that section when the Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (CRDB) put up an advertisement for the post of Project Officer. That is how I crossed over to CRDB in 1987 after working with NPF for four years. There, I was recruited as a management trainee with a view to being given a managerial post after two years. However, it took me seven years to be given the managerial post. I did not complain because it was at the time when I was taking care of a young family and I thought that if I demanded for a higher post I would not perform to the expected level, so I kept quiet. But by 1992, CRDB underwent massive restructuring whereby the posts we held were abolished and we had to apply afresh. Luckily, I got the Branch Management post. What helped was that most of the time I carried a positive spirit, I always thought positively even when I was in difficult situations. That’s how I managed most of the time. So, when they were trying to restructure my colleagues totally refused. But I don’t know where I got the courage because I managed to convince everyone to sign the contract. But I remember one thing that I can now share with other people.

When we were asked to apply afresh, I was at first hesitant because I thought I was going to compete with my manager. I, therefore, went to my husband and told him my fears that if I applied for the Branch Managerial post my manager would be offended, but my husband gave me the support and said, “No. No. No! You know you have been waiting and now this is the chance for you to be manager.” Well, I submitted my application on the deadline date, but I was surprised to see that I was shortlisted. I went for interview and got the job.

Who’s who Tanzania: Were you the first female Branch Manager at CRDB?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: Yes, I was the first female Branch Manager to open a new branch at Holland House in Dar es Salaam. That was my baby. At CRDB by then I was the first female to hold a post as Branch Manager and especially opening a new branch, followed by Vijana Branch. It is easy to find a branch and you run it, but it is difficult to be given a new branch to open. I am happy to say after two years, the branch was doing very well as the second best of the 12 branches. It was a model branch for CRDB as every new product or system had to be tried at Holland House Branch before being rolled over. It was indeed an exemplary trust to the branch and its staff.

Who’s who Tanzania: It appears you had a very good team?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: Oh! Yes, the team was very good and I had actually created it, because I was not tired of teaching or inviting teachers for help. I remember even on Sundays I was training my staff and whatever competition was introduced to the bank we were branch number one. I remember when we sold shares we were placed number one to sell shares, when we were told to mobilise deposits following bank restructuring, we were number one to mobilise more deposits. It was all teamwork and we were doing very well.

Who’s who Tanzania: Did you get any rewards out of that?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: Yes, I should say so because after two years, I went for my Master’s in Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom (UK). When I came back, I was given another assignment to help the bank migrate from one system to another. So, when we completed the assignment, I was asked to apply for a vacant post which was Zonal Director as the one holding the post was due to retire. I did not want to apply, but they bluntly told me that the IT assignment was now over and I should apply, and so I applied and got the job. But as usual I was very inquisitive. I went to one of the interviewers and asked: ‘Did you give me the job because I am a woman or did you give me because of my ability? He said, “No Margareth, you did very well.”

Out of the five candidates, I was the only female and I became Eastern Zone Director in the bank, managing Morogoro, Lindi, Mtwara and Dar es Salaam. However, the post of Zonal Director did not last long and was abolished. At the same time, the manager who was managing my previous post at Holland Branch had unfortunately died.
I was, therefore, asked to go back and manage the branch. I found the branch doing badly and it took me six months to resurrect it. I stood firm to make sure the anomalies were corrected and we became the best again. One day, I just received a call from the Managing Director, informing me that the board had appointed me Director for Banking. It was a surprise and a shock to me because the bank’s policy was that one had to apply for any higher post. For that one I didn’t apply and I was shocked because I didn’t apply. The Managing Director told me that it was the board’s decision and not his. Therefore, I moved to the bank’s headquarters to hold what I saw to be a challenging post. I was heading marketing, bank operations and e-banking - because we were the first bank to bring ATMs and introducing debit cards. We even introduced a microfinance unit and an insurance wing. Bringing in the ATMs was not easy as it needed a lot of marketing.

Who’s who Tanzania: Where did you go after that?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: By then new banks, mostly foreign, were coming in, and for me - having been in the banking business for more than 20 years - I thought maybe I didn’t have much exposure to compete with foreign banks, so I wanted to have exposure. I joined United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hoping to get foreign experience so that I could impact my people. I, therefore, requested to go to Sudan to work as international member of staff because working in Tanzania I would be considered as a local member of staff.

Who’s who Tanzania: How did you get the job?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: The post was advertised and I applied for it. I was later shortlisted before going for an interview. I went through two interviews. First, with Coopers and Lybrand, then I went to face a UNDP panel. I got the job and then requested the UN Headquarters to give me an opportunity to serve outside my station. The procedure is that you are given a maximum of two years to be out of your home country, but you maintain your salary back home. It was in 2004 when I went to Sudan where I stayed for two years.

I was lucky to serve as a member of the first team to establish the UN office in Sudan and I was the Budget Officer although I was supposed to be the Head of Budget. Because my arrival in Sudan was inadvertently delayed, someone else a man from the UK had to come in for the post. But when I reported I never demanded back my post and the man was left in disbelief. For me my belief was that since it was my first time to work in an international arena it was good to learn from someone before I took up the office. I liked it because we were both getting the same pay and I learnt a lot, and for the first time I was able to approve a lot of money. We were buying planes, putting up airports and the first radio station for the UN.

Who’s who Tanzania: Now tell us your journey from the UN to what you are now?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: I worked for the UN for about eight years before coming back to the banking industry. It was funny, but it was encouraging that after all those years, people still remembered me as a banker. One day I was at Shoppers Plaza in Dar es Salaam. A friend of mine, Dora Ngaliga, she is still at CRDB, came to me and informed me that some people were looking for me. She said there was a good opportunity for me. I thought she was joking and I didn’t take her seriously. But then someone called me and I found out that he was a consultant for the government, looking for someone to establish Tanzania Women’s Bank. He wanted me to go for an interview so that they could establish if I was suitable for this post. I went and I did the interview. When they informed me that they had accepted me as Director it was quite a surprise. I knew it was a challenge because they couldn’t pay me as good as I was being paid at the UN.

But after soul-searching I said let me take back my experience to the community because money is not everything. I finally concurred with them that they were right. At first, I thought is was easy maybe because I was comparing opening a bank with a branch, but when I started I realised it was a big challenge because I had to put up all business plans myself while my team was inexperienced, put up all policies and write all requirements for the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), taxation and the government. It was really overwhelming, but I am happy to see that my team supported me very well.

Who’s who Tanzania: Who do you attribute the success of this bank to?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: First, I hail the government because without it I am sure the bank would have taken much longer to be established because then it was not easy to raise capital. But under President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete who really turned around and accepted to give the bank seed capital from the government. That was really clever because so many governments do not have that plan and that is why many are still struggling to have such a bank. Second, I thank my board which did a lot to support me. It was not that easy.

I remember we were sometimes going wrong and the board would be there for me trying to make it work. I also thank my team because without it I wouldn’t have done anything. We worked overnight. I remember even when the President was coming to inaugurate the bank, we even had no leaflets and we had to conceptualise to have the concept that could lead us to determine what products we wanted to promote. While banks have almost the same products, we had to determine what products would make us different, thus making customers come to us instead of going to another bank. We had long brainstorming sessions and in most cases working up to midnight.

But most importantly, I thank my family for their tolerance because it was almost like they had lost me as I seemed to be in the bank all the time. Even when I went home, I had to carry my assignments and they were helping me. I remember the commendable work done by my daughter Bella during this trying period. She was virtually with me everywhere saying: “Mum, don’t worry, you don’t have money to place advertisements, I will do it for you.” She was adding her voice to our advertisements when we started and sometimes even when I was calculating spreadsheet, cash flows and plans she was giving a helping hand.

Who’s who Tanzania: Where is your daughter now?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: She is now in South Africa, but by then she was still in school, she is brilliant! My son also recently found some investors and I was there on the computer talking to the whole group in the US because of him. He would help saying what do you think I should help? I would tell him, I want a concept, I want you to prepare a profile for the bank, sit and read and prepare a profile for the bank. My daughter is always helping me to put up some pictures. She is a graphic specialist and she would put all images together even now she’s still doing it. Whenever I have a presentation she helps me to put pictures in it. As for those US investors they want to see which corner they can come in and help small and medium enterprises (SMEs). My husband too has been of great help to me.
I thank them all.

Who’s who Tanzania: Which of your workers has been very close to you?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: It has been tough actually to all of us, but in the end we deliver. That is the most important. We meet deadlines, we argue, we agree and sometimes we agree to disagree, but this is what I want. I want people who will challenge my way of thinking and when I see logic, which is great, because a team is a team when they contribute. Actually, they are very happy because they see themselves as part of the process.

Who’s who Tanzania: Do you have any branches?

How well have you been able to cover the country?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: It is a challenge because BoT monitors capital before a bank is allowed to open a branch. So far from when we started BoT permitted us to have one more branch. We have two main branches, but my team and I resolved that we could not just sit and cry because we did not have enough capital. We decided to adopt a branchless module which even BoT was very happy about, and we were allowed to go ahead. So, we are in Mwanza, Dodoma, Mbeya, Iringa, Ruvuma, Makambako and even Coast Region using a branchless module.

Having a branchless module means we neither have strong rooms nor counters. What we have are offices using a big branch network. For instance, we open an account in a big bank that we call a “Collection Account”. Our customers use the account to bank with us and for us. Whenever they bank we remove the money from our account to their accounts and also we use mobile banking. You can bank and take money out of your account using your mobile phone such MPESA, Tigopesa, Airtel Money and others.
We also allow our customers to use ATM machines to cash. They do not need to go to the branch, but they can bank anywhere and in this way we touch so many lives without us having any strong room or being extensive. I can say with confidence that we are very well as we train and issue loans using this branchless module.

Who’s who Tanzania: You are a successful and inspirational icon.
But we believe you also have someone who has inspired you. Can you, please, tell us some of the most inspirational figures in your life?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: I should say first is my mother. She was my motivator and mentor. She would talk to be, literally putting a brain in my head to the extent that even when I was not with her I remembered what she had told me. She was not a person to do things for you, she liked you to do things for yourself. You should believe in yourself, trust yourself, have discipline and be self-motivated. Therefore, through her principled and unwavering spirit, my road to this level has been possible through believing in myself. If I know, I know. Even when I sat for exams I don’t remember when I did my exams shaking. I am a person who does not believe in planning to fail. I always plan to pass. Whenever I meet challenges, I normally see them as opportunities. I learnt to respect time and to respect everything. I have a passion for whatever I do, and if under any circumstances I want to part ways with a company or institution, I always try to leave in a clean way. That is why I am always remembered because I always do my best up to the end. I never believe in giving up.

Who’s who Tanzania: You are a busy and dedicated person. Do you have time to socialise? What are your hobbies?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: I have hobbies. I like travelling and sightseeing.
I like experiencing and I always say so as there are always other ways of doing things. You could be used to doing things in such a way, but when you see other people doing things in a different way it excites me. I also like reading and I read a lot because I had a unique zeal for literature and I am still in love with literature up to now. I have the capacity to read between lines to understand the unspoken, so I watch movies a lot, documentaries, and I like dancing too (laughter).

Who’s who Tanzania: What are your plans for retirement?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: As they say, whatever you know, and most important, the experience you have, offers you the best chance of doing it very well. But I want to write books. I want to leave behind a legacy for girls especially because I don’t believe in girls being frustrated to the extent of being married as a second wife. They can do a lot. I want to encourage and inspire them that if they believe in themselves they will believe in you. This is very important: None will be convinced if one does not believe in oneself first. I also see myself managing another company and teaching my family to employ others instead of them running around looking for employment. I believe that way I will have a very good retirement time. I will manage my time and also manage my life. Right now, I see someone managing me instead of me managing myself.

Who’s who Tanzania: As an inspirational figure in this country, what is your advice to community, especially young people?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: Talking to girls, especially young mothers because as women we have multiple tasks to be successful or to be seen or even to be recognised they have to work almost twice as much. But I want to tell women first to believe in themselves because they have to build their capacity and I always use this terminology: “You have to build your shock-ups very well” because if you end up in a ditch you will stay there and you will never come out, but if you have good shock-ups - like a car - you will just bounce back and continue. This is what they need to be, tears will never give you answers or solve any problem, but think very fast, look for options.

I always tell my staff, if you come to me with a problem also come to me with options. What do you think we should do? So, I am also telling women to look at challenges as opportunities. For instance, with problem, what do I do? How do I do it? How good am I going to manage it? Today, I was talking to someone, she owns a school. So she was saying: “Huh! I’m giving up because registration is giving me a problem.” I said to her, “You know what? Never plan to fail. Never!” So, my advice to young people, especially young women is not to plan to fail. They should always plan to succeed and should always plan big, think big, never think small because when they think small they will remain small, but when they think big they will struggle to attain their dream. I always say “you will never avoid things from happening, they will happen, but most important is the way you handle the situation.”

Who’s who Tanzania: Any final word to us?

Margareth Mataba Chacha: When I am driving around with my family I always ask them, “What in this week do you think struck you?” So, when I ask myself this question this week or next time around, I should say Who’s who Tanzania. I am pleased to have your time and actually I am pleased to have your trust, coming to me and interviewing me. I am very much blessed because I believe in print as print has one special characteristic. It stays. When you have a book or a magazine basically any print even our children or siblings will read it, they will realise and they will see pictures. I, therefore, believe in print and I respect print. In this Who’s who Tanzania, I am sure you are making history because this magazine is going across borders. You are particularly making Tanzania known to the world. You are also enabling Tanzanians to be recognised by others because no one knows us. You are making us sit in someone else’s sitting room without you being there and someone talking about you without you being there. Thank you very much!