New Occupational Health Law Extends Protection to All Workers

By Alain Kabinda                                                                                                                                     

Zambia has expanded Occupational Health and Safety protection to workers across all sectors of the economy following the enactment of the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 16 of 2025.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga said the new legislation broadens occupational health and safety protection beyond the mining sector to cover all sectors of the Zambian economy.

                                                         Ps. Zachariah Luhanga

Mr. Luhanga said every worker, regardless of the sector in which they operate, deserves to work in an environment that is safe, healthy and conducive to productivity.

He was speaking during a stakeholder engagement on the implementation of the new Act and the development of regulations and sector-specific guidelines.

Mr. Luhanga said the new Act replaced the previous occupational health and safety legislation and was assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema on December 23, 2025.

He said stakeholder consultation was critical in developing regulations that would effectively support implementation of the legislation.

Mr. Luhanga said Government had been guided to ensure that legislation was properly subjected to stakeholder consultation before implementation.

“Successful implementation of the new Act cannot be achieved by Government alone,” he said.

Mr. Luhanga said employers, workers, trade unions, industry associations, professional bodies and other stakeholders all had a role to play in ensuring effective implementation of the law.

He said occupational health and safety was also important to Zambia’s economic development ambitions because a healthy workforce was necessary for increased productivity.

Mr. Luhanga said workers needed to be physically, psychologically, socially and emotionally healthy to effectively contribute to national development.

He further said the new legislation extended protection to vulnerable groups operating within the formal sector, describing the provision as an important development in Zambia’s occupational health and safety framework.

Meanwhile, Occupational Health and Safety Institute (OHSI) Director General Dr Martha Chakulimba said the mining sector remained an important area of focus because of the occupational risks associated with mining activities.

                                                            Dr Martha Chakulimba

Dr Chakulimba said the stakeholder engagement brought together representatives from the Chamber of Mines and the Federation of Small-Scale Miners.

She described the Chamber of Mines as one of the more mature sectors in occupational health and safety, saying other sectors could learn from its experience.

However, Dr Chakulimba said small-scale mining continued to face serious occupational health and safety challenges.

She said physical hazards such as rockfalls remained a concern, while the use of toxic substances, including mercury in gold processing, presented emerging health risks.

Dr Chakulimba said Zambia had made progress in workplace safety, particularly in established mining operations, but more attention was needed on occupational health and safety in small-scale mining.

She said the situation required action to ensure that people engaged in mining activities were adequately protected.

Dr Chakulimba also cited international statistics indicating that about three million workers die globally each year from work-related causes.

She said the figures demonstrated the scale of the occupational health and safety challenge and the need for concerted action.

Mr. Luhanga said Government was supporting the Occupational Health and Safety Institute as it expands its physical presence across the country.

He said preparations were underway to establish additional offices, while Government was also considering stronger collaboration between OHSI and the Ministry of Health.

He said accredited public health facilities could complement existing occupational health services and help bring services closer to workers.

Mr. Luhanga said sector-specific regulations and guidelines would help address the different occupational risks found in industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, transport, banking, retail and mining.

He urged stakeholders to continue participating actively in the consultation process to ensure that the regulations were practical, inclusive and effective.

He said the ultimate objective was to strengthen prevention, reduce workplace injuries and diseases, improve compliance and contribute to sustainable economic development.

 

“GBV Cases Drop, But Sexual Abuse of Children Rises”

By Alain Kabinda

For every number recorded in Zambia’s Gender-Based Violence statistics, there is a human story—someone who experienced fear, violence, intimidation, neglect or abuse.

That reality is reflected in the latest figures from the Zambia Police Service, which show that while the country recorded a significant decline in reported Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases during the fourth quarter of 2025, women, girls and children continued to bear the greatest burden.

Between September 1 and December 31, 2025, police recorded 9,707 GBV cases countrywide, compared with 12,378 cases during the same period in 2024.

The figures represent a reduction of 2,671 cases, or 21.6 percent.

Of the 9,707 cases, 6,796 were criminal, while 2,911 were classified as non-criminal. And although the overall number fell, sexual abuse cases moved in the opposite direction, increasing by 5.6 percent.

Women and girls accounted for the overwhelming majority of victims recorded during the quarter.

Of the 9,707 victims, 7,682, or 79.1 percent, were female, while 2,025, representing 20.9 percent, were male.

The figures become even more concerning when children are considered.

A total of 2,716 children were reported to have been abused during the period.

Among these, 2,027 were victims of criminal GBV cases—comprising 1,571 girls and 456 boys.

The numbers illustrate how gender and age intersect in the country's GBV problem, with girls particularly exposed to sexual and other forms of abuse.

Behind the statistics are children whose experiences can affect their education, relationships, psychological wellbeing and future prospects.

Geographically, Lusaka recorded the highest number of criminal GBV cases during the quarter.

The province recorded 1,483 cases, accounting for 22 percent of the national total.

Luapula followed with 1,055 cases, while Western recorded 849 and Copperbelt 771.

Eastern recorded 592 cases and Central 547.

Southern had 404 cases, Muchinga 394, North-Western 359 and Northern 224.

At divisional level, TAZARA recorded the lowest number with 50 cases, followed by Airport Division with 70.

The differences between provinces, however, do not necessarily mean that violence is more prevalent in areas with higher reported figures.

Reporting behaviour, population size, access to police services, awareness of GBV and the availability of support mechanisms can all influence recorded cases.

Physical abuse remained the most commonly reported form of GBV.

Police recorded 3,689 physical abuse cases, only slightly lower than the 3,718 cases recorded during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Of these, 3,076 involved Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (OABH).

Lusaka accounted for the largest share, recording 733 OABH cases.

Copperbelt followed with 328 cases, Western with 314, Eastern with 300 and Central with 292.

Muchinga recorded 269 cases, Luapula 239, North-Western 211, Southern 187 and Northern 165.

The figures also included 29 murder cases, compared with 36 during the same period in 2024, as well as eight attempted murder cases.

These cases demonstrate the potentially fatal consequences of violence that may begin with less severe forms of abuse.

Economic abuse accounted for 1,784 cases during the quarter, with many involving failure or neglect to provide necessities of life.

This is a fictionalised composite survivor account created from the forms of Gender-Based Violence reflected in the Zambia Police Service’s fourth-quarter 2025 statistics. It does not represent a specific individual.

Speaking to one of the resident by the of Chanda (Not Real name) in Lusaka by Daily News said that For years, “home” was supposed to mean safety.

For one woman, however, home became the place where she learned to live with fear.

At first, they appeared to be ordinary arguments—raised voices, accusations and words that left her wondering what she had done wrong.

“I started changing the way I behaved because I was always trying to avoid another argument,” she recalls.

She stopped speaking about certain things. She became careful about what she said and when she said it.

One of the most difficult parts of her experience was recognising that what was happening to her was abuse.

There were no obvious signs to people outside the home. She could go to work. She could meet people. She could smile.

She also faced financial difficulties that made leaving the relationship more complicated.

Without enough money to immediately establish an independent home and meet basic needs, the decision to leave was not as simple as outsiders might imagine.

“I kept thinking about what would happen if I left,” she says.

That uncertainty kept her in the relationship longer than she wanted.

Her experience reflects one of the less visible dimensions of GBV: economic abuse.

According to Zambia Police Service statistics, 1,784 cases of economic abuse were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2025, many involving failure or neglect to provide necessities of life.

She worried that people would ask why she had stayed, why she had not left earlier or why she had allowed the situation to continue.

Instead, she was encouraged to seek help. That first conversation changed something.

She realised that seeking help was not an admission of weakness. It was a decision to protect herself. She eventually approached authorities and was connected to support services. For the first time in years, she began speaking openly about what she had experienced.

She learned that healing could involve rebuilding confidence, learning to trust again and understanding that the violence was not her fault.

Her experience mirrors the importance of victim-support services in the national GBV response.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Zambia Police Victim Support Unit provided professional counselling to 7,957 victims and offenders, while victims were referred to courts and other service providers for further assistance and protection.

‘I want other women to speak’

Today, the survivor says the most important lesson from her experience is that silence can make an abusive situation even more difficult to escape.

She believes people experiencing violence should know that asking for help is an option.

“I wish I had spoken earlier,” she said.

“But I also know that people need to understand that leaving is not always easy. Sometimes a person needs support, protection and someone to believe them.”

Her story is only one possible experience behind the thousands of GBV cases recorded across Zambia.

The police recorded 9,707 GBV cases between September and December 2025, including physical, economic, sexual and emotional abuse.

Although the overall number represented a 21.6 percent decline from the same period in 2024, sexual abuse increased by 5.6 percent, while 689 child defilement cases were recorded.

They represent fear, disrupted lives, difficult decisions and, for some, the long journey towards recovery.

And for those still living with violence, the first step towards change may simply be finding the courage to say:

“This is happening to me, and I need help.”

Economic abuse can leave victims dependent on perpetrators for food, shelter, education, healthcare or other basic needs.

For people trapped in financially abusive relationships, leaving can become particularly difficult when they lack independent income or resources.

The figures therefore underline the importance of recognising GBV as more than physical violence.

Perhaps the most concerning development in the latest statistics is the increase in sexual abuse.

Police recorded 1,022 sexual abuse cases, compared with 968 during the fourth quarter of 2024.

That represents an increase of 54 cases, or 5.6 percent.

Within this category were 689 child defilement cases, with girls making up the majority of victims.

Lusaka recorded 197 child defilement cases—the highest provincial figure.

Eastern recorded 104, Southern 84, while Copperbelt and Central each recorded 59.

Western recorded 49, North-Western 46, Luapula 34, Muchinga 31 and Northern 20.

TAZARA recorded four cases and Airport Division two.

The statistics also included 159 rape cases, 19 attempted rape cases, 75 indecent assault cases and 20 incest cases.

The increase raises important questions about child protection, reporting, access to justice and the environments in which children are exposed to sexual abuse.

Emotional abuse recorded fewer cases than physical, economic or sexual abuse, but its impact should not be underestimated.

Police recorded 296 emotional abuse cases, down from 359 in the corresponding period of 2024.

Insulting language accounted for 99 cases, while threats of violence accounted for 66.

Emotional abuse can be difficult to identify and report because it may occur privately and without visible injuries.

Yet repeated insults, intimidation and threats can have serious consequences and may accompany or precede physical violence.

The police response to GBV extends beyond investigation and prosecution.

During the fourth quarter, the Victim Support Unit provided professional counselling to 7,957 victims and offenders.

Victims were also referred to courts and other service providers for additional support and protection.

Such services are critical because survivors may require more than police intervention.

They may need medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, safe accommodation and protection from further abuse.

Effective GBV response therefore depends on cooperation between law enforcement agencies, health institutions, courts, social services, communities and civil society organisations.

The 21.6 percent decline in reported GBV cases is an important development, but it should be viewed alongside the increases recorded in sexual abuse.

The statistics show that Zambia's GBV challenge is not disappearing.

Rather, it is changing across different forms of abuse and affecting different groups in different ways.

The particularly high number of children affected by criminal GBV—and the increase in child defilement cases—means that prevention and protection of children must remain central to the national response.

The Zambia Police Service has called for continued collaboration with communities, stakeholders and partner institutions to strengthen prevention, protection and response mechanisms.

The task now is to ensure that fewer people experience violence in the first place, while those who do are able to report safely, receive appropriate support and access justice.

Because behind the 9,707 cases is not simply a statistic.

There are families dealing with consequences that may last long after a police report has been filed.

And there is a society being challenged to confront violence not only when it becomes visible, but before it happens.

 

From Risk to Resilience: Why Insurance Matters for Zambia’s Future

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA — When a farmer plants a crop, a family builds a home, an entrepreneur starts a business or an investor commits money to a major project, there is always an element of risk.

A drought can destroy a harvest. A fire can wipe out a business. An accident can leave a family facing unexpected costs. Illness can disrupt household finances, while theft, fraud and other unforeseen events can erase years of investment.

Yet behind each of these risks is a question that is often overlooked: what happens after the loss?

For Zambia's insurance industry, the answer is increasingly being framed around financial resilience.

As the country marked National Insurance Week 2026 under the theme “Insurance – Facing the Future with Confidence,” industry and Government leaders used the occasion to highlight insurance not simply as a financial product, but as a mechanism for protecting livelihoods, businesses and investments.

Speaking during the event in Lusaka representing the President of the Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ), Dr Webster Twaambo, ZSIC Life Managing Director Mr. Collins Hamusonde said the theme reflected the industry's desire to help members of the public understand insurance and make use of appropriate insurance solutions.

He said Zambia's economic ambitions would need to be accompanied by mechanisms capable of protecting the wealth and investments being created.

A business that loses its assets through fire or another insured event may require financial support to recover. A farmer affected by adverse weather may need protection against the loss of income. A family facing an unexpected health or other financial shock can similarly be pushed into financial difficulty.

There are signs that insurance coverage is expanding, although the sector says significant gaps remain.

According to figures presented at the Insurance Week launch, the proportion of adults in Zambia using insurance services increased from 6.3 percent in 2020 to 10.4 percent in 2025, based on the FinScope Survey.

The increase represents progress, but also means that a large proportion of the population remains outside formal insurance protection.

The industry has therefore identified consumer education, product design and service delivery as areas requiring continued attention.

Mr. Hamusonde said myths and misconceptions about insurance continued to affect uptake, while the industry also needed to rethink how it communicates with younger consumers.

He said consumers increasingly expected simpler processes, greater convenience and faster resolution of claims and service-related concerns.

And speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the Treasury, Felix Nkulukusa, Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Finance Division Mr. Mulele Mulele said insurance should provide people with peace of mind and a financial safety net against accidents, illness, adverse weather, property losses, legal liabilities and other unexpected shocks.

He said confidence in insurance depended on consumers understanding what they were buying.

People need to know what is covered, what is excluded, what premiums they are paying and what they should expect when they make a legitimate claim, he said.

The Second National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS II), covering 2024 to 2028, seeks to expand access to and effective use of quality, affordable and inclusive financial products and services, including insurance.

Insurance therefore forms part of a broader financial inclusion agenda that goes beyond having a bank account or mobile wallet.

As Mulele put it, true financial inclusion must also enable people to protect what they earn, own and build.

Meanwhile Dr Brian Manchishi, Deputy Registrar–Insurance, said confidence had to be built through greater public awareness, clear communication, fair treatment of consumers, quality service delivery and meaningful engagement.

He said, provides a platform for bringing the industry closer to consumers and creating opportunities for direct conversations.

Insurance is ultimately a promise: consumers pay premiums because they expect financial protection when an insured event occurs.

Government therefore urged insurers to settle legitimate claims promptly, fairly and efficiently, clearly explain products and exclusions, and handle complaints professionally.

Government and the insurance industry have been working to extend weather-index insurance to farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Hamusonde said the programme had encountered some initial implementation challenges but expressed confidence that lessons from the experience could contribute to improved implementation in the coming agricultural season.

Climate-related risks remain a major concern for farmers whose livelihoods depend heavily on weather conditions.

Insurance can provide a mechanism for managing some of those risks, helping farmers recover rather than absorb the entire financial impact of adverse weather.

The connection between insurance and Zambia's economic ambitions was another major theme of the launch.

Mr Mulele added that the Grow Zambia agenda, with its focus on increasing production and investment in agriculture, mining, energy, tourism, manufacturing and infrastructure, would require stronger mechanisms for protecting investment.

Mr. Mulele said that as the country increases production, expands businesses and develops infrastructure, it must also strengthen the mechanisms that protect those investments.

Insurance can support this process by allowing risks to be identified, priced and transferred.

For investors and financial institutions, appropriate risk protection can form part of the broader environment required to commit capital to productive projects.

Insurance companies are institutional investors and mobilisers of long-term savings. Government said the sector could therefore contribute to mobilising domestic resources for productive investments in areas such as infrastructure, housing, agriculture, energy and manufacturing.

Mr. Mulele said that Government has specifically identified low-income households, informal-sector workers, farmers, rural communities and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as groups requiring greater attention.

A seasonal farmer does not have the same financial circumstances as a salaried employee. A market trader faces different risks from a large corporation, while a young entrepreneur starting a business has different needs from an established company.

He therefore challenged the insurance sector to develop products that reflect these differences.

Hamusonde said the insurance sector now had access to tools including advanced telecommunications, information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence that could be used to improve accessibility, efficiency and customer experience.

Digital platforms and alternative distribution channels could help insurers reach customers at lower cost, particularly in communities where traditional insurance distribution may be difficult.

As more services become digital, consumers will still need clear information about products, premiums, exclusions, claims and their rights.

The 2025 FinScope Survey showed overall financial inclusion increasing from 69.4 percent in 2020 to 80.1 percent in 2025, while rural financial inclusion rose from 55.9 percent to 72.5 percent over the same period.

The increase in insurance uptake from 6.3 percent to 10.4 percent forms part of this broader movement.

If insurance is to become an integral part of household financial planning and business development, consumers must understand its value, insurers must provide products that meet real needs, and regulators must maintain an environment that protects policyholders while allowing responsible innovation.

The challenge for Zambia's insurance industry is therefore bigger than increasing the number of policies sold.

It is about building a culture in which individuals, families, farmers and businesses think about risk before disaster strikes.

 Shoprite Local Sourcing Opens Market for Zambian SMEs

 By Alain Kabinda

 Zambian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to position themselves to supply major retailers such as Shoprite by improving the quality, consistency and quantity of locally produced goods.

 Business Development and Marketing Expert James Mutungu Chiwala said the growth of locally sourced products in Shoprite stores demonstrates the opportunities available to Zambian businesses under the country’s “Grow Zambia agenda”.

 Mr. Chiwala said Shoprite, which opened its first store on Cairo Road in Lusaka in 1995, has transformed its sourcing model over the years, with local products now accounting for more than 80 percent of goods on its shelves.

He said the retailer initially relied heavily on imported products because many Zambian suppliers were unable to meet the required quality and supply standards.

 According to Mr. Chiwala, the increased presence of Zambian products on Shoprite shelves shows that local businesses can compete with imported products when they develop the capacity to meet commercial standards. 

He says fresh produce provides one of the clearest examples of the growth of local sourcing, with almost all fresh vegetables supplied by local producers, except products that cannot be grown in Zambia or are out of season. 

“Shoprite will not buy because you are Zambian—it buys because you meet quality, quantity and consistency,” Chiwala said. 

He also said, need to move beyond simply producing goods and instead develop reliable systems for production, packaging, quality control and delivery.

 Mr. Chiwala says Shoprite's engagement with local farmers has also contributed to the development of agricultural supply chains. 

He said farmers supplying the retailer have benefited from food-safety training, production planning and technical support from agricultural experts and agronomists. 

Mr. Chiwala cites potato production as an example of how market access can encourage farmers to invest in production and storage. 

He said farmers have been supported to develop storage capacity, enabling them to supply potatoes throughout the year, including during the rainy season. 

He also points to strawberries as an example of import substitution, saying Shoprite has increased its purchases from farmers in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt rather than relying mainly on imports from South Africa. 

“This contributes to the reduction of imported fruits, vegetables, poultry and meat products and strengthens Zambia's agriculture sector,” Chiwala said. 

Mr. Chiwala said SMEs should see large retailers as potential commercial partners but must understand that access to the market comes with strict requirements.

 He further added that businesses need to demonstrate that they can consistently provide the required quantities while maintaining quality and meeting packaging and food-safety standards.

 Mr. Chiwala said a rice cooperative in Western Province could access a major retail market if it develops the capacity to clean, sort, grade and package its rice and maintain year-round supply.

 Mr. Chiwala said the same principle can be applied across agriculture, manufacturing, food processing and other sectors where Zambian businesses have the potential to replace imported products. 

Some Zambian suppliers have been able to access Shoprite stores in other countries, creating opportunities for businesses to expand their markets. 

He argues that businesses should first use the domestic market to develop their production systems, establish quality standards and build a track record before targeting regional and continental markets. 

“Once you master quality in the domestic market, you can export to DRC, SADC and AfCFTA markets,” he said.

He added that increased local procurement also has the potential to generate employment across the economy. 

He said that women and young people are among those benefiting from jobs created by businesses supplying goods and services to major retailers. 

The employment impact, he said, extends beyond companies that sell directly to retailers to include farmers, factory workers, transporters, packaging businesses and other service providers involved in the supply chain.

 He said that strengthening local supply chains can therefore create economic opportunities in both urban and rural areas.

 Mr. Chiwala said stronger local sourcing can contribute to the Grow Zambia agenda by increasing demand for locally produced goods and encouraging investment in value addition.

 He identifies import substitution as one of the potential benefits, arguing that producing more goods locally could reduce demand for foreign exchange.

 He said local production and value addition can also create employment, increase economic activity and generate additional tax revenue that can support public services.

 For SMEs and cooperatives, he said, the opportunity lies in using large retailers as an entry point into formal markets.

 “Government cannot employ everyone,” Chiwala said. 

He argues that sustainable economic growth will require businesses to create jobs and expand production while retailers provide markets for locally produced goods. 

For Zambia's agriculture and manufacturing sectors, the increasing demand for locally sourced products presents an opportunity to build stronger domestic supply chains. 

Mr. Chiwala said that the opportunity will only translate into sustained business growth if SMEs invest in quality, consistency, value addition and the capacity to supply markets throughout the year. 

They should be to move Zambian businesses from supplying local shelves to competing successfully in regional and continental markets

AGRA Puts Women at the Centre of Zambia’s Agribusiness Future

By Alain Kabinda

For many women in Zambia, agriculture is more than a source of food.

It is a business, a livelihood and, increasingly, an opportunity to build enterprises that can employ others and contribute to the country's economic growth.

Yet for many women trying to turn agricultural activities into viable businesses, the journey from production to a growing enterprise remains difficult.

Limited access to finance, markets, business networks and leadership opportunities continues to constrain the ambitions of many women entrepreneurs.

It is against this backdrop that the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is calling for greater investment in women-led agribusinesses, arguing that women should be recognised not merely as participants in agriculture but as entrepreneurs, investors and leaders.

Speaking at the 7th She Entrepreneur Women in Agribusiness Conference, AGRA Zambia Country Director Maziko Phiri said supporting women should go beyond programmes that simply encourage their participation in agriculture.

                      Mr. Maziko Phiri 

“When women thrive in agribusiness, economies grow, communities prosper, and Africa’s food systems become stronger,” Mr Phiri said.

“We are not here to sympathize with women in agriculture. We are here to invest in their ambition, enterprise and leadership,” he said.

The message comes at a time when Zambia is looking to agriculture not only as a source of food but also as an engine of economic activity.

Women are already active across the agricultural value chain, from farming and processing to trading and other forms of agribusiness.

A woman may have an agricultural product but lack the capital to purchase equipment. She may have a viable business idea but struggle to access affordable credit. She may produce for the market but lack the networks needed to reach larger buyers.

Access to finance emerged as one of the major concerns raised during a women's leadership roundtable held earlier this year when AGRA President Alice Albright visited Zambia.

Mr Phiri said women had highlighted difficulties in accessing the capital needed to start, expand and sustain their enterprises.

She said women were already making significant contributions to Africa's food production, agribusiness and trade.

Their contribution stretches from farming and entrepreneurship to research and market leadership.

But Ms Albright said women needed more than an opportunity to participate.

They needed access to markets, finance, networks and leadership opportunities to turn their ambitions into sustainable businesses.

“Progress will only occur when women have the voice, the leadership, and the access to markets, finance and networks they need to succeed,” she said.

 Ms Albright highlighted the Value for Her initiative, which she said had grown into a community of more than 160,000 women agribusiness entrepreneurs across Africa.

The initiative reflects a broader recognition that supporting women in agriculture requires more than training or encouraging them to participate.

Mr Phiri said the future of Zambia's agriculture would not only be determined by how much the country produces.

It would also depend on who is given the opportunity to invest, innovate and build businesses throughout the agricultural value chain.

That includes women who are moving beyond primary production into processing, trading, distribution and other areas where greater value can be created.

It is also created through the businesses that provide inputs, transport crops, process agricultural products, package goods, connect producers to markets and supply consumers.

Women who gain access to these opportunities can potentially move from being small-scale participants to owners of businesses that create jobs and generate income within their communities.

Mr Phiri said this was one of the reasons AGRA had chosen to work closely with She Entrepreneur in supporting women who are already developing businesses in agriculture.

He also stressed that agricultural transformation cannot be achieved by one organisation working alone.

“Lasting transformation is built through partnerships. It is built through enterprise and people,” he said.

The women gathered at the conference represented more than statistics about participation in agriculture.

Mr Phiri recognised the women attending the conference for the enterprises they were building and the contribution they were making to their communities.

He said many women continued to establish and grow agricultural businesses despite the financial and other challenges confronting them.

The challenge now is to ensure that women do not remain at the lower end of the agricultural value chain when they have the potential to become owners and leaders of businesses operating across it.

A stronger pipeline of women-led agribusinesses could mean more businesses, more employment opportunities, stronger local value chains and greater participation by women in decisions shaping the country's food system.

The 7th She Entrepreneur Women in Agribusiness Conference brought together women entrepreneurs and other players in the agricultural sector to discuss business growth, access to finance, investment, leadership and opportunities for women.

For AGRA, the answer lies in treating women's ambition as an economic opportunity rather than simply a social issue.

The organisation says it will continue working with partners to support women as they build enterprises and assume greater roles across Zambia's agricultural value chain.

The broader message from the conference is that Zambia's agricultural future will not be determined only by the amount of food produced.

It will also be shaped by the people who have the opportunity to own businesses, attract investment, innovate and learn.