A Short Account of the work of the Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union, Ltd.

Abstract

The Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union, Ltd., with its headquarters in Moshi, Tanganyika, is the largest cooperative organization of natives in Africa. It took over, in 1932, the former Kilimanjaro Native Planters' Association, which was formed in 1922 by the native coffee growers on Kilimanjaro to assist them to market their coffee. The original association was not a corporate body, and there were many difficulties In its life. The chief of these was to obtain adequate representation of its members, and in actual fact the association was run by a handful of progressive growers, and the rank and file knew very little of its policy. At any general meeting not more than 5 percent of the members were present, or had a voice in its management. Nevertheless,' the need for some sort of organized marketing of their crops kept the members together.