REA Opens More Doors for Women in Engineering

 By Alain Kabinda 

LUSAKA — Zambia's energy future may depend not only on how many power projects the country builds, but also on who gets the opportunity to design, manage and deliver them. 

For young women pursuing engineering and other science-related careers, the journey from university classrooms into the professional world has often been marked by limited practical exposure, mentorship gaps and underrepresentation in technical workplaces.

 The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is now seeking to change that reality through a new “Female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Internship Programme”, which will provide young women with hands-on experience in Zambia's energy sector. 

The programme will accommodate between 10 and 15 female students each year, subject to available resources, with internships running for between three and six months. 

At the centre of the initiative is a simple objective: to give female students an opportunity to move beyond theory and experience engineering in practice. 

REA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Alex Mbumba said the programme was developed in response to the low participation of women in Zambia's engineering profession. 

                                                        Eng. Alex Mbumba 

He noted that women represented only five percent of registered engineers in Zambia as of March 2026, highlighting the need for deliberate interventions to increase female participation in technical professions. 

“Women remain significantly underrepresented in this area,” Eng. Mbumba said. 

For REA, however, the challenge is not only getting more girls and young women to study STEM subjects. 

It is also ensuring that those who enter universities have opportunities to acquire the practical experience, professional networks and confidence needed to transition into employment. 

The internship programme will primarily target students studying *electrical engineering, power systems engineering, renewable energy engineering, and energy and environmental engineering*. 

Students from related fields, including civil and mechanical engineering, environmental science, GIS, geomatics and information technology, may also be considered. 

The interns will be exposed to actual rural electrification activities rather than being restricted to routine office assignments. 

Their practical experience could include *distribution line design, transformer installation and sizing, load analysis, grid extension planning, solar mini-grid planning and installation, feasibility studies, GIS mapping, site inspections, project monitoring, community engagement and technical reporting*. 

This practical exposure is expected to give students a clearer understanding of how engineering knowledge is applied in communities where electricity infrastructure is being developed.

 The programme will also provide workplace safety training, technical supervision and mentorship.

 Where possible, REA intends to connect female interns with women already working in the profession, creating opportunities for career guidance and role modelling. 

The students will also be exposed to professional skills such as communication, teamwork, work ethics, problem solving, project and contract management, technical report writing and career planning. 

Eng. Mbumba has called on engineers and supervisors involved in the programme to ensure that interns receive meaningful assignments and regular feedback. 

The initiative has also brought universities into the conversation about how Zambia can better prepare engineering students for the world of work. 

And Copperbelt University Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Chisale said stronger collaboration between universities and industry was necessary if institutions were to produce graduates with the technical competencies demanded by employers. 

He said practical exposure was particularly important for disciplines that require technical and psychomotor skills. 

“You have to work very hard for this internship,” he told students. 

He urged interns to demonstrate discipline, follow instructions and seek guidance whenever they encounter difficulties. 

He also warned against negligence when handling expensive equipment, noting that mistakes in an industrial environment could have serious consequences and potentially affect opportunities for other students. 

The message is clear: access to an internship is an opportunity, but converting that opportunity into professional growth will depend on the students themselves. 

Mulungushi University has also welcomed the programme, describing internships as an important bridge between academic learning and professional practice. 

The university said engineering students needed opportunities to work alongside experienced professionals, understand real project demands and begin developing the confidence and skills required in the workplace. 

Mulungushi University committed to preparing students for placement, maintaining contact throughout the internship period and using lessons from the programme to strengthen university teaching. 

The university also expressed interest in collaborating with REA on curriculum reviews to improve the alignment between academic programmes and industry requirements. 

The University of Zambia (UNZA) similarly said the programme would give female STEM students practical exposure to areas including *rural electrification design, solar mini-grids and project management*. 

UNZA identified applied research, curriculum development and technical seminars as possible areas for deeper collaboration with REA. 

Such partnerships could create a two-way relationship in which universities understand the changing needs of the energy industry while industry benefits from graduates whose training is more closely aligned with workplace realities. 

For the Ministry of Gender Equality, the programme represents more than an education initiative. 

Representing Permanent Secretary for Gender Equality Mainga Kabika, Assistant Director responsible for Women Economic Empowerment in the Gender Division Austin Makufamba said the initiative responds to two national priorities — developing the skills Zambia needs for its growing energy sector and increasing women's participation in technical professions. 

He said Zambia's energy ambitions would require engineers, planners, environmental specialists, ICT professionals, GIS experts, technicians, artisans and project managers. 

Women, he said, could not remain underrepresented in the technical roles driving the country's development. 

The five percent representation of women among registered engineers, as highlighted by REA, demonstrates the need for deliberate interventions addressing barriers that women face in technical education, practical training, employment and leadership. 

Makufamba said encouraging girls to study science and mathematics was not enough if they could not subsequently access practical training and professional mentorship. 

He linked the initiative to Zambia's gender policy and legislative framework, including the *2024 National Gender Policy* and the *Gender Amendment Act No. 22 of 2015*. 

As Zambia works to expand electricity access, the demand for technical professionals is expected to extend beyond traditional electrical engineering. 

Modern energy projects require expertise in environmental planning, land assessment, risk management, permitting, project management, construction supervision, data analysis, GIS and community engagement. 

REA will assess interns through supervisor reports, progress reviews and competence evaluations. 

Feedback from students and participating institutions will also be collected to help improve the programme. 

The authority is further encouraging universities, professional bodies, corporate partners and private-sector organisations to contribute through mentorship, specialised training, technical assistance and professional exposure. 

For the young women entering the programme, the experience could represent a critical transition — from learning about electricity and infrastructure in lecture rooms to seeing how those systems are designed and delivered on the ground.

 Bank of Zambia Rate Cut Signals Relief for Borrowers as Inflation Eases

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA — For households struggling with the cost of borrowing and businesses facing high financing costs, the Bank of Zambia's decision to cut its Monetary Policy Rate by 250 basis points could mark an important shift in the country's economic landscape.

The Bank of Zambia Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has reduced the policy rate from 13.25 percent to 10.75 percent, citing declining inflation, improved macroeconomic conditions and stronger economic activity.

Announcing the decision during the MPR Announcement in Lusaka, Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya said the reduction was aimed at aligning monetary policy with the changing economic environment while creating room for lower lending rates.

                                                        Dr. Denny Kalyalya

Inflation declined to 6.1 percent in September 2026, from 6.5 percent at the end of June and 7.1 percent previously. On an average basis, inflation fell from 8.2 percent in the first quarter to 6.6 percent in the second quarter and is currently averaging about 6.3 percent in the third quarter.

The central bank now projects average inflation at 6.7 percent for 2026, down slightly from its previous projection of 6.8 percent.

It expects inflation to average 6 percent in 2027 and 6.3 percent during the first half of 2028.

The improvement has been supported by several factors, including a good maize harvest, continued appreciation of the Kwacha against major currencies, lower prices of some non-food items and improved fiscal consolidation.

For ordinary consumers and businesses, however, the significance of the policy rate lies in what happens next.

A reduction in the policy rate does not automatically mean that every borrower will immediately see a similar reduction in the interest charged on loans.

And Dr. Kalyalya noted that lending rates had remained relatively sticky even as yields on government securities declined.

The policy adjustment is therefore intended to provide room for financial institutions to review their lending rates and potentially make credit more affordable.

For small businesses seeking working capital, farmers requiring financing for production, households servicing loans and companies looking to expand, the transmission of the rate cut could influence investment and consumption decisions.

Lower borrowing costs could also reduce the cost of doing business, provided commercial lending rates respond to the change in monetary policy.

The Governor said the move should give economic actors greater breathing space to either establish new enterprises or expand existing productive capacity.

The rate decision comes against a backdrop of continued improvement in Zambia's foreign exchange market. And for the Kwacha continued to appreciate during the third quarter, although at a slower pace than in the previous quarter.

The currency appreciated by 8.3 percent during the third quarter, compared with 14.8 percent in the preceding quarter, and had recorded a further 0.8 percent appreciation by September 28.

The mining sector remained a major source of foreign exchange.

Net foreign exchange sales by mining companies increased to about US$770 million in the second quarter, from US$626 million previously.

Mining tax payments also increased to US$398.7 million, compared with US$289.7 million previously, contributing to total flows of about US$1.2 billion.

However, increased economic activity has also generated stronger demand for foreign exchange, particularly for imports.

This has resulted in periods of net demand despite relatively strong foreign exchange supply.

The Bank of Zambia says it intervened with about US$2 billion to smooth excessive volatility, while remaining a net purchaser of foreign exchange.

For Zambia's gross international reserves stood at US$5.8 billion, equivalent to about 4.4 months of import cover, at the end of June.

The decline from US$6.2 billion was largely attributed to two major debt-related payments — US$514.8 million for a Eurobond buyback and US$453.4 million for a maturing bond.

The reserves subsequently recovered to approximately US$6 billion, representing 4.5 months of import cover, by July.

The rebuilding of reserves was supported by mining taxes, project inflows, non-tax revenue, interest earned on reserves and gold purchases.

Gold purchases alone amounted to about US$508.5 million, with the price of gold reaching approximately US$4,100 per ounce as of September 29.

The current account surplus widened to about US$300 million, equivalent to 3.2 percent of GDP.

The improvement was driven by strong copper exports, lower reinvested earnings by foreign-owned companies and growth in non-traditional exports.

Non-traditional exports increased by 31.7 percent to US$1.5 billion, largely supported by nickel, while traditional exports grew by 3.7 percent to US$3.1 billion.

And Zambia's economy grew by 7.22 percent in the second quarter of 2026, although this was slightly lower than growth recorded in the first quarter.

The Purchasing Managers' Index remained above the 50-point threshold, indicating continued expansion in business activity.

Businesses cited declining inflation, exchange-rate stability and improved electricity supply among the factors supporting economic activity.

The Bank of Zambia projects GDP growth of 5.3 percent in 2026, rising to 6 percent in 2027 and 7.1 percent in 2028.

Domestic credit expanded by 14.4 percent in nominal terms to June, while private-sector credit growth accelerated to 12.9 percent from 8.1 percent. The Government securities outstanding stood at approximately K270.7 billion at the end of June.

Demand for Treasury bills remained stronger than demand for government bonds, with Treasury bills recording a subscription rate of 107.8 percent compared with 61.7 percent for bonds.

Dr. Kalyalya warned of several upside risks that could disrupt the inflation outlook.

Among them is the possibility of a Super El Niño, which could affect agricultural production and food prices.

The Governor also pointed to the potential impact of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East on global oil prices, as well as geopolitical tensions, tariffs and tighter global financial conditions.

Changes in monetary policy by major economies could trigger capital outflows from emerging markets, placing pressure on currencies such as the Kwacha.

“Even when the water is calm there could be some waves if you don't take precautions,” Dr. Kalyalya warned.

It is a test of whether improving inflation, currency stability, stronger reserves and economic growth can translate into tangible relief for households and businesses.

The broader objective is to ensure that the improving macroeconomic environment begins to support productive investment, business expansion and reduced financial pressure across the economy.

The effectiveness of the rate cut will ultimately depend on how quickly and fully it passes through from the central bank's policy rate to commercial lending rates — and how businesses and households respond when the cost of credit begins to ease.

Behind the Smile: Zambia’s Women Find a Place to Heal, Restore and Breathe Again

By Alain Kabinda 

LUANSHYA — A woman can walk into a room smiling, greet everyone around her and appear perfectly fine, while carrying a burden that nobody knows about. 

Behind that smile may be anxiety, trauma, rejection, marital pain or months of emotional exhaustion. 

But in Luanshya, women from different backgrounds recently gathered to break that silence and confront some of the emotional battles they have been carrying. 

Under the theme“Breath Again,” the Mental Health Healing Retreat for Women (MHHRW) provided a safe space for women seeking healing, restoration and empowerment. 

The retreat was built around the words of Ezekiel 37:5: “I will put breath in you, and you will come to life.” 

The retreat's convener said the initiative was created after observing women who appeared strong on the outside but were struggling privately. 

“We saw many women smiling on the outside but bleeding on the inside,” she said. 

The observation points to a reality that can make mental health challenges difficult to recognise.

A woman can continue going to work, raising children, participating in church activities and fulfilling family responsibilities while battling anxiety, depression or unresolved trauma. 

At the centre of the Luanshya retreat was the creation of a safe environment where women could talk about their experiences without being judged. 

The programme included prayer, inner-healing sessions, mental health talks, panel discussions and one-on-one counselling. 

The organisers deliberately combined spiritual and practical support, recognising that women may need different forms of support as they work through painful experiences. 

For others, it may involve counselling, spiritual reflection or simply discovering that they are not alone in what they are experiencing. 

The convener said the Church has an important role to play in supporting people experiencing emotional and psychological pain. 

“The Church must be a hospital for the broken, not a courtroom for the wounded. That is why we created Breath Again,” she said. 

The statement reflects the organisers' desire to create spaces where women can speak openly about their struggles without feeling condemned. 

It also challenges the perception that faith communities should only provide spiritual answers to problems that may have emotional or psychological dimensions. 

By incorporating mental health talks and counselling alongside prayer, the retreat presents healing as a process that can involve both spiritual and practical support. 

The organisation describes itself as a women's mental health and spiritual healing ministry focused on helping women heal, forgive, encounter God and become established for their purpose. 

Its broader mission is centred on creating safe spaces where women can acknowledge their pain and begin working through it. 

This is particularly important for women who may have spent years suppressing difficult experiences because of family expectations, social pressure or fear of being judged. 

The Luanshya retreat also highlights a broader conversation about mental health and the importance of support systems.

When emotional struggles remain hidden, families and communities may not recognise that someone needs help until the situation becomes more serious. 

The “Breath Again” initiative is built around that principle — that women should have places where they can stop pretending that everything is fine. 

For the women who gathered in Luanshya, the message of Ezekiel 37:5 offered the central metaphor of the retreat: life can return to places that feel exhausted, broken or without hope.

And sometimes, the first step towards healing is simply being given permission to breathe again.

 From the Pump to the Tax Office: How Digital Technology Is Changing Zambia’s Fuel Stations

 By Alain Kabinda 

LUSAKA, Zambia — At a busy fuel station, the movement never really stops. 

A customer pulls up to a pump. An attendant dispenses fuel. Another motorist pays electronically while a third uses cash. Across the forecourt, several pumps are operating simultaneously, attendants are changing shifts and sales are being recorded. 

Behind this seemingly routine activity is a complex stream of transactions that fuel station operators must monitor, reconcile and report. 

For retailers handling thousands of transactions every day, keeping track of every litre dispensed, every payment received and every invoice issued can become a significant administrative challenge. 

It is against this background that Sabipay Technologies Limited has received Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Smart Invoice certification and integrated its solution with Pesapal’s Forecourt Management Solution (FMS), creating a connected digital platform linking forecourt operations with tax invoicing. 

The development brings together fuel dispensing, sales, payments, reconciliation and invoicing in a single workflow, potentially reducing the need for operators to rely on separate manual processes. 

For a sector where small discrepancies can accumulate across thousands of daily transactions, the significance is not simply technological. 

It is about knowing what was dispensed at the pump, what was paid for, what was recorded as a sale and what was ultimately invoiced. 

Every day, stations manage multiple pumps, attendants, fuel products, payment channels and shifts. When these functions operate through disconnected systems, operators can spend considerable time matching sales records against payments and physical fuel movements. 

The result can be delays in reconciliation and limited visibility over the performance of individual pumps, attendants or shifts. Pesapal’s FMS is designed to address this challenge by bringing pump operations, payments, sales monitoring, staff management and reconciliation together on one platform. 

Speaking through the statement issued to Daily News Sabipay Technologies Limited Country Manager Mr. David Muchwe said compliance should become part of the normal business process rather than an additional burden placed on operators. 

“For fuel retailers, compliance should be built into the way they operate rather than treated as an additional administrative burden,” Mr Muchwe said. 

He said the integration provides station operators with a more connected way to manage pump transactions, payments and invoicing while giving them greater visibility over their businesses. 

The development comes at a time when Zambia's tax administration is increasingly moving towards digital systems. 

The Zambia Revenue Authority 2025 Annual Report recorded 41,111 taxpayers registered on Smart Invoice by the end of 2025, compared with 26,329 in 2024. 

The growth illustrates the expanding use of digital invoicing in Zambia and the importance of businesses adapting their internal systems to the country's evolving tax environment. 

A station does not sell fuel first and then somehow recreate its transactions for tax purposes later. The transaction begins at the pump. 

When dispensing, payment, sales recording and invoicing are connected, information can move through the business with fewer manual intervention points. For operators, that can mean less time spent comparing separate records and more time using the information generated by their businesses. 

Mr Muchwe said the future of fuel retail will increasingly depend on connected and data-driven systems. 

“We believe the future of fuel retail in Zambia is connected, data-driven and digital,” he said. 

When tax invoicing is incorporated into the same workflow as pump transactions and payments, meeting regulatory requirements can happen alongside normal business operations. 

The potential benefits include faster reconciliation, easier identification of discrepancies and better access to information for decision-making. 

For station owners and managers, this could help shift the role of technology from simply recording what has already happened to helping them understand how their businesses are performing. 

The integration between Sabipay’s Smart Invoice certification and Pesapal’s FMS is intended to make that chain more connected—from the moment fuel is dispensed to the recording of the sale, payment reconciliation and issuance of an invoice. 

Zambia's fuel stations are increasingly operating in an environment where technology is becoming part of everyday business management. 

The challenge is no longer simply whether a business can adopt digital tools, but whether those tools can communicate with one another. A payment system that does not connect with sales records leaves work for someone to reconcile and a pump-management system that does not connect with invoicing creates another administrative layer. 

A tax system that operates separately from the point of sale can require businesses to duplicate information. The Sabipay-Pesapal integration seeks to close some of these gaps by connecting the different stages of the transaction. 

It is a relatively technical development, but its underlying proposition is straightforward: the fewer times businesses have to manually recreate the same transaction, the easier it becomes to see, reconcile and manage what is happening. As Zambia's petroleum retail sector continues its digital transition, the fuel pump is becoming more than a point where motorists buy fuel. 

It is increasingly becoming the starting point of a digital chain connecting operations, payments, records, invoicing and compliance. 

And for a sector built on thousands of transactions every day, that connection could become one of the most important parts of running the modern forecourt

 Chilanga Cement Raises Over K1 Million for Charity and Youth Development

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA — Chilanga Cement Plc has raised more than K1 million in cash and in-kind contributions through its 2026 Charity Golf Day, with proceeds set to support the Mother of Mercy Hospice in Chilanga, Mitanda Home for the Aged in Ndola and the Chilanga Golf Academy.

The annual event, held at the Chilanga Golf Club, attracted business leaders, corporate partners, government representatives, golfers and other stakeholders in support of community development and youth sports.

Speaking at the event, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe commended Chilanga Cement for its continued investment in charitable causes and the development of young golfers through the Chilanga Golf Academy.

Mr Chileshe said the initiative complemented Government’s efforts to create opportunities for young people through sport and partnerships between the public and private sectors.

He said the Chilanga Golf Academy was aligned with the objectives of the National Youth Policy, which promotes meaningful partnerships among young people and stakeholders in implementing youth development programmes.

“We believe that this is the right direction if we are to identify and nurture the sporting talent that exists among our young people and position Zambia to compete more effectively at national, regional and international levels,” Mr Chileshe said.

Chilanga Cement Board Chairman Muna Hantuba said corporate social responsibility remained an important part of the company’s operations under Huaxin Building Materials Group.

Mr Hantuba said the company would continue supporting communities in areas where it operates and ensure that its social investments delivered meaningful and sustainable benefits.

He also praised the development of junior golfers at the Chilanga Golf Club, saying the young players had been taking part in various tournaments and building their skills and confidence.

“At Chilanga Cement, we believe in building tomorrow, today,” he said.

Mr Hantuba described the Chilanga Golf Club as an important legacy site under the Huaxin Group and pledged the company’s continued support for its sustainable operations.

Chilanga Cement Chief Executive Officer Sheng Jianhua said Huaxin Building Materials Group was guided by the belief that “a better world begins with us.”

                                                                     Mr. Sheng Jianhua

Mr Sheng said the company’s investment in the Chilanga Golf Club formed part of its broader social investment and sustainability commitments. The facility, which was once a limestone quarry, has been transformed into a sporting venue offering recreational and developmental opportunities to the surrounding community.

He said Chilanga Cement’s community investments were guided by its “People First” value and focused on education, health, employment, environmental protection, shelter and infrastructure.

The Charity Golf Day is held annually to raise funds for charitable causes while supporting the continued development and management of the Chilanga Golf Club. It also provides an opportunity for Chilanga Cement, its business partners and other stakeholders to promote community development, sport and youth empowerment.