AUTHORITIES in Mbeya Region have cautioned cooperative leaders who misuse their positions, including embezzling cooperative resources, warning that stern legal action will be taken against those found guilty.

Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary for economy and production, Said Madito, issued the warning over the weekend while opening a leadership training for board members of cooperative unions across the region’s districts.

The participants included board members from the Chunya Tobacco Growers’ Cooperative Union (CHUTCU), Kyela Cocoa Growers’ Cooperative Union (KYECU), Rungwe Cooperative Union (RUCU), and Mbarali Cooperative Union (MICU).

Madito urged the leaders to serve farmers fairly and avoid mixing politics with cooperative affairs, warning that doing so could divide communities. He also encouraged them to embrace innovation to ensure their unions thrive and align with the government’s vision of strengthening cooperatives as a reliable pillar for citizens.

“I want to be very clear: the issue of cooperatives and warehouse receipt systems is not something to be taken lightly. We need leaders who will safeguard the growth of cooperatives, not opportunists who squander cooperative resources,” he stressed.

He called on leaders to work closely with members to keep politics out of their unions, cautioning them against politicians who campaign on anti-cooperative rhetoric, saying such individuals could undermine the system.

Mbeya Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives, Elia Richard, said the training aimed to educate leaders on proper cooperative management practices.

He explained that the two-day training would conclude with participants taking a special oath, which is part of the governance guidelines for unions. He emphasized that many challenges facing cooperatives—such as embezzlement and conflicts—stem from unethical leadership, hence the importance of the training.

“We do not expect to continue seeing disputes in our unions after this training. We believe these leaders will uphold their oaths and implement the guidelines we are providing,” he said.

Evance Mwaipopo, chair of the training and a leader at KYECU, thanked the government for initiating the program, saying it would greatly help them in managing their unions.

He pledged that they would adhere to the government’s directives to increase productivity and would cooperate with the Assistant Registrar by consulting him on key matters to avoid breaching cooperative principles.

He assured the government that they would safeguard the cooperative movement, which has boosted production and raised farmers’ incomes through better prices.