- The Chipata Industrial Yard, Kagunda Turn off, Eastern province.
Premium pumpkin leaves, zumba, mutambe, tindingoma and kasongo processed using advanced solar and electric drying technology. ZABS certified facilities ensure quality grading and comprehensive testing delivering consistent product excellence for retail and export markets.
At Denise Cousineu Cooperative Society, we transform fresh traditional vegetables into premium dried products that preserve Zambian culinary heritage while meeting international food safety standards. Our state-of-the-art processing facility at Chipata Industrial Yard serves eighty dedicated women farmers across Chief Chinyaku’s chiefdom in Kanjala ward. Using dual solar-electric drying chambers, we maintain precise temperature and humidity controls that preserve natural colors, nutrients, and authentic flavors consumers expect. Every batch undergoes rigorous ZABS certification testing, ensuring products meet both national regulations and European North American export requirements for year-round availability.
Our comprehensive vegetable range includes pumpkin leaves rich in Vitamin A and iron, zumba prized for distinctive nutty flavor and antioxidant content, mutambe with delicate texture requiring specialized handling, tindingoma adapted to solar drying year-round, and kasongo valued for exceptional protein levels addressing nutritional deficiencies. Member farmers receive fair pricing based on transparent quality grading, with payments processed promptly after each delivery. Collective processing eliminates individual post-harvest losses while opening access to supermarket chains and international buyers previously unavailable to smallholder women farmers operating independently.
Member farmers harvest premium vegetables during early morning hours when nutrient content peaks and freshness is optimal. Cooperative transport vehicles collect from designated pickup points across Kanjala ward ensuring no farmer travels more than three kilometers. Fresh produce arrives at our Chipata Industrial Yard facility within two hours of harvest maintaining quality throughout.
Trained quality control teams inspect every delivery for color uniformity, leaf integrity, and freedom from damage or contamination. Triple-stage washing using purified water removes field debris while maintaining leaf structure. Solar-electric drying chambers operate at scientifically controlled temperatures preserving nutrients, colors, and authentic flavors through advanced monitoring systems.
Located at Chipata Industrial Yard serving eighty member farmers with certified processing facilities and transparent financial services. Smart invoicing compliance and independent annual audits ensure accountability to every member farmer.
Common questions about membership, products, financial services and cooperative operations answered clearly. Democratic governance ensures transparency and member participation in all cooperative decisions.
Membership is open to all interested women in Chipata and surrounding areas since our 2024 by-law amendments. Contact Board Chairperson Alice Mkandawire at 0977608364 or General Manager Dorothy Chizenga at 0975839373. Complete registration forms and begin monthly contributions to access savings programs, loan products, processing facilities and democratic voting rights immediately.
We process premium dried vegetables including pumpkin leaves, zumba, mutambe, tindingoma and kasongo using solar and electric technology. Our product range includes dried sheet sweet potatoes, sun-dried mangoes and comprehensive groundnut varieties: pounded, raw, fried, freshly cooked, dried and roasted. All products meet ZABS certification standards for supermarkets, chain stores and international markets including Europe and North America.
Various loan products with favorable interest rates support member development and emergency financial needs throughout the year. Loan amounts and terms vary based on savings history, share ownership and specific member circumstances. Monthly contributions build eligibility while dividends on shares provide additional returns. Contact our financial services team to discuss which loan product best matches your current needs and repayment capacity.
Democratic governance ensures every member voice matters through our General Assembly of eighty women meeting annually. Members elect the ten-person Board of Directors who oversee professional management and strategic direction. Committees including Finance, Sales, Procurement, Marketing and Community Supervision provide specialized oversight. Independent auditors ensure financial transparency annually. All major decisions require member approval following cooperative principles of member control and economic participation.
We hold ZABS certification ensuring national food safety compliance, ZPPA registration for procurement activities, Workman's Compensation coverage protecting our team, and Smart Invoicing registration with ZRA for tax transparency. Our processing facilities follow stringent quality control measures including grading, pooling and testing for product consistency. Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises supervision under the Cooperative Act of 1998 ensures legal compliance and member protection throughout operations.
