By Derrick Silimina

As the world prepares to commemorate International Women’s Day, 30 local women-led SMEs have graduated not just as small business owners in Kalumbila but into influential architects shaping the district’s future.

The graduation marks the culmination of an intensive business development program sponsored by FQM Trident – a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals (FQM) which is integrating women-owned SMEs into the high-value mining supply chain in Kalumbila district. The 30 SMEs transition from informal trade to structured business entities as their stories reflect a shift in the traditional “mine-town” narrative.

“I used to think my business was too small to matter to a mining giant like FQM,” Ethel Womba shared, clutching her certificate.

Womba is among the 30 graduates whose journey began with a vegetable garden and a vision. Today, her agribusiness is no longer a backyard hobby but a registered business supplying vegetables to the growing township.

“Now, I understand record-keeping, marketing, and how to bid for contracts. I am not just a farmer; I am a supplier.”

For this reason, Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Permanent Secretary Subeta Mutelo has commended FQM for its dedication in supporting the empowerment of women and girls through skills training, educational initiatives, health programs, and leadership development.

“Let me reaffirm the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to walking with you on this journey. We will continue to refine our policies, expand our outreach, and strengthen our partnerships with stakeholders like FQM Trident to ensure no woman is left behind in Zambia’s economic transformation,” Mutelo said this when she officially launched the ‘Kudikwata’ Women Empowerment Programme and the graduation of 30 local women-led SMEs in Kalumbila district on Thursday.

She noted that the training was conducted by the Ministry in collaboration with FQM’s Trident Foundation Limited, reflecting the power of public-private partnerships in advancing women’s economic empowerment.

Mutelo outlined that through this collaboration, 30 women successfully completed intensive training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business management and business formalisation and have been equipped with practical knowledge and skills to formalise, manage and grow sustainable businesses.

“My Ministry looks forward to continued engagements in working together to promote inclusivity and equitable development through initiatives such as Kudikwata’ Women Empowerment Programme.”

Trident Foundation’s Community Relations Manager Joseph Ngwira noted that the graduation of 30 SMEs creates a “ripple effect,” as for every woman empowered in Kalumbila district, several households gain food security, and dozens of local jobs are created.

Ngwira said women must be positioned within agriculture and enterprise value chains, not at the margins, but as suppliers, service providers and growth stage enterprises.

“Our focus is not short term relief. It is economic architecture and across our programs, over 700 entrepreneurs have been trained in structured business development initiatives in the past four years.”