FORGET aimless afternoons and empty pockets while playing Nsolo. A group of 11 young Zambians in Lumezi district’s Zokwe area have traded beer for business, thanks to a clever idea and a helping hand from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Lumezi Town Council reports that just two years ago, 27 year-old Sandy Mwale, and his friends were like most young people in Zokwe – struggling to find their footing.
“Before forming the cooperative, we were just a playful group of youths indulging in beer drinking and fights.”
“But after getting empowered under CDF, we have a better livelihood and change is there for all to see,” Mwale, the Nyaminga Youth Cooperative chairperson said.
After their local councillor’s call to action resonated with the group during a CDF meeting they decided decided to ditch the idle life and form a cooperative.
With a business plan in hand, they proposed setting up a hammer mill, a much-needed service in their remote village.
Their hard work paid off. They secured K40,000 from CDF and used it to purchase and assemble a hammer mill, sourced from nearby Lundazi Town.
“We thought of a hammer mill because it was becoming expensive to grind our grain here. We were charged K15 to grind a tin of maize but with this hammer mill, we are charging the people K10 for a tin. People are happy with this hammer mill,” Mwale said.
The Nyaminga Youth Cooperative, as they’ve named themselves, comprising eight males and three females haven’t just filled a local need – they’ve built a successful business.
“We’ve made over K8,000 in profit so far,” Mwale said. “Even after fixing a minor breakdown.”
With the passing of time the profit margin is expected to increase.
Catherine Ngulube, the cooperative’s vice chairperson, is a vocal advocate for continued CDF support.
“Government must continue helping us with such progressive initiatives because here in Zokwe, we have seen the benefits,” Ngulube said.
“We have a group that has set up a cooking oil expeller project, here we have a hammer and all this is through CDF.”
Petros Nyirenda, the group’s secretary, is meticulous about keeping records and believes transparency is key.
He encouraged other young people to follow their lead and apply for CDF funding as it could change their lives.
The Nyaminga Youth Cooperative is a shining example of how a little support can empower young people to become self-sufficient and contribute to their community’s prosperity.
From idle afternoons to industrious mornings, these former beer buddies are now grinding out their own success story, one kernel at a time.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba April 12, 2024
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