Abstract:

Having the registration process and requirements that are easy and affordable is one thing, and having the entire process that supports cooperative performance is yet another. This study intended to establish the influence of the registration process and requirements on the performance of the cooperative societies. The study adopted a descriptive research design using a mix method paradigm.12.6% of the total cooperatives in the Central province of Zambia were sampled from 16% of the total districts in the province. A total of 210 respondents were arrived at through purposive and systematic random sampling techniques. The desk review, semi-structured questionnaires with a reliability test of Cronbach's Alpha of 0.890, and interview schedules were the instruments used to collect data. The data were analyzed qualitatively using themes and quantitatively using descriptive statistics using SPSS Version 22. The study reveals that cooperative registration requirements are affordable, and the process is easy but hardly supports the cooperative growth and performance. The study, therefore, recommends the revision of the registration process being used so as to enhance cooperative performance and eventually bring about social and economic development in rural Zambia.

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