FOR six long years after completing school, 28 year old Shepherd Mutambika’s days looked the same as he helped with dishes at home, running errands and watching his peers move forward while his own dreams sat on pause.
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Shepherd, who completed grade 12 at Shifwakula Secondary School in Six Miles back in 2017, could not afford to go any further with his education.
With limited financial means and no clear pathway, he quietly carried the weight of uncertainty.
But his story took a turn last year when he became a beneficiary of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) bursary under Liteta Ward, Chisamba Constituency.
“When I heard about the bursary, I didn’t hesitate. I had the passion but no money. The CDF gave me the chance I was praying for,” Shepherd recalled
The bursary secured him a place at Kabwe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he enrolled in automotive mechanics, a trade he had admired from a distance for years but never imagined mastering.
Fast-forward to today, Shepherd is no longer the young man stuck at home.
He now works with Living Water, a respected NGO, as a qualified mechanic responsible for maintaining the organisation’s fleet of vehicles and supporting logistics.
“This is not just about fixing cars. I have always wanted to be a mechanic actually, so this is a dream come true. I want to say thank you to President Hakainde Hichilema for this initiative. It’s helping a lot of us who had nowhere to run to. I’m proud of what I have become, and I’m just getting started,” he said.
Shepherd has become a source of encouragement to other young people in his community, urging them to take advantage of the opportunities available.
“Don’t wait. Apply, learn a skill, and change your life. If I can, you too can,” Shepherd advised the youth.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, September 24, 2025
