WITH the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) now at K40 million per constituency, many ordinary Zambians began to see real change at community level and one of the most inspiring stories Kalemba covered was that of Besnart Banda, a Lumezi woman whose humble grocery was transformed into a thriving wholesale business.
Before the empowerment, Besnart’s family shop in Lumimba Ward of Lumezi District was barely surviving, with dusty shelves and limited stock that could not sustain her household.
However, after accessing a K200,000 CDF loan in 2024, her business took a started growing into one of Chitungulu’s busiest wholesale and retail outlets.
“Before we were empowered with CDF, our business was at a small scale and we did not have much products on display for sale. But after the empowerment from government, we managed to restock our shop with all these goods,” Besnart said.
The loan also allowed her to meet her four children’s school needs, purchase a small Probox vehicle for errands between Chitungulu and Lundazi and consistently repay the loan from weekly profits.
The rise of Alibarnk General Trading has not only reshaped Besnart’s future but also added to the growing chorus of rural testimonies showing how the CDF is unlocked opportunities for women and men across Zambia this year.
By George Musonda
Kalemba December 31, 2025
