Wheels of opportunity

By Derrick Silimina

In the busy streets of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, Joel Kangwa fired up his red Haojue. It is not just a motorbike. It is the reason he wakes up each morning with purpose. He kicked the starter and the engine responded with a low growl. 

“Working as a courier on my motorbike is a dream come true. I now earn more than double what I used to make as a salesman in the industrial area,” he said. 

As Kangwa begins his first trip, the breeze rushing past his helmet creates a smooth rhythm that evokes a sense of purpose and vitality. It highlights how essential his motorbike is to completing his daily deliveries. 

Kangwa, 30, took a job as a delivery rider two years ago. Thanks to this work, he was able to buy a fuel-efficient Chinese motorbike that is easy to maintain. This shows how gig work helped him to climb economically and build assets. 

“My flexible working hours and lack of direct supervision give me a sense of independence. The steady income improves my economic stability and brings a sense of purpose and well-being,” he said. 

  

Positive results 

The use of Chinese-made motorbikes in the Southern African country provides young people with vital livelihood opportunities amid high unemployment. By registering on courier platforms, riders earn income delivering various goods such as food, flowers, household appliances and parcels, receiving payment for each delivery. 

This delivery business not only boosts economic activity nationwide, but also provides flexible jobs for young people with few opportunities. It helps to reduce poverty and build economic resilience. 

“I do not have to look for work anymore. I am glad to use my bike to earn a living because this job lets me pay rent, feed my family and save some money,” said Kangwa. 

Joshua Mwanza, with only a month in the transport business, is already seeing positive results using his Jialing motorbike at Kapata Bus Station in Chipata District, east Zambia. This quick progress shows how fast new entrants in the transport sector can benefit and establish themselves, especially with reliable Chinese motorbikes that enable efficient passenger transport. 

“After finishing tertiary education, I tried to find a job but had no luck. I saw the transport business growing and gave it a shot after buying a second-hand Jialing motorbike,” Mwanza explained. 

For George Chirwa, a young aspiring motorcycle mechanic, the widespread availability of spare parts especially from Chinese manufacturers has made maintenance and customization easier. 

This sparked his idea to open a garage on Lusaka’s Lumumba Road where he hopes to tap into the rising demand for repairs and customization. 

At Chirwa’s workshop, the clatter of tools, the sharp ping of a dropped bolt, and the soft hiss of a tire being re-inflated form the daily soundtrack of his work. Surrounded by colorful motorcycles, his careful inspection of worn brake pads, a kinked throttle cable and a loose chain reflects his experienced approach and deep understanding of motorcycle mechanics. 

“Nowadays, I don’t worry about bills or the high cost of living in Lusaka. With the strong demand for bike repairs, I earn a stable daily income,” said Chirwa who specializes in repairing Chinese motorbikes such as Lifan, Haojue, Xianfeng, and Jialing among other brands. 

Role of Chinese manufacturing 

The use of Chinese-made motorcycles by individuals like Kangwa and Mwanza, along with Chirwa’s expertise in repairing these brands, highlights the tangible impact of Chinese manufacturing on mobility and economic participation in Zambia. 

The ease of movement and the availability of repair services for these bikes support local economic activity and employment, showing how Chinese products contribute to the welfare of local communities. 

As Chinese investment in motorbike assembly plants and production increases across Africa including Zambia, some of these efforts, such as agreements signed during the recent Western China International Fair, are expected to support more localized production and create additional employment opportunities in the region. 

Many of these vehicles are produced in Chongqing, a global centre for motorcycle manufacturing, showing China’s key role in offering low-cost and accessible transport across Africa. 

“Africa is one of our most important overseas markets. In the first quarter of this year alone, we exported more than 130,000 motorcycles worth nearly $90 million,” said Zhou Chun, manager of the International Department at Zonsen Motorcycle. 

Chongqing’s export of over 5 million motorcycles shows strong growth and points to a trade relationship that could reshape local markets and increase motorcycle use in Zambia and beyond. 

Deals worth 1.65 billion yuan ($232 million) signed between Chongqing enterprises and African countries like Rwanda and Kenya during the Western China International Fair show the deepening economic relationship between China and Africa. The agreements focus on motorcycle and car assembly and spare parts production, reflecting China’s strategic push into Africa’s automotive industry. 

Such collaborations exemplify how China’s involvement is shaping vehicle production and distribution across Africa while reflecting broader trends of growing Chinese industrial presence on the continent. 

For this reason, a high-level delegation from a Chinese company showed interest in setting up a motorcycle assembly plant in Zambia’s Kapiri Mposhi District, a strategic step aimed at boosting local manufacturing and improving supply chain integration nationwide. 

The interest in Kapiri Mposhi is largely driven by its strategic location. The district serves as a critical transportation and logistics hub situated at the crossroads of two major railway lines, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and Zambia Railways.  

Munyeke highlighted the multifaceted benefits of establishing the motorcycle plant including direct employment in manufacturing and indirect roles in supporting sectors like logistics, maintenance and retail, adding that the plant is expected to improve transportation affordability in the district. 

“We anticipate the motorcycle plant will elevate the district’s status as an industrial and innovative hub and boost our socio-economic emancipation.”  

Building better bonds

By Derrick Silimina

In the heart of Ndola's industrial area, a convoy of trucks enters a factory while workers operate forklifts, moving back and forth to load boxes of raw materials onto trucks.

Joel Kabwe recalls how the stress he experienced due to his failing marriage to Anna Kabwe affected his focus while supervising loading operations here, 319 km north of Lusaka, Zambia's capital.

"I opted for binge drinking beer as a way to seek solace and manage frustrations that often lead to domestic conflicts, but that exacerbated our relationship problems," Kabwe told Global Sisters Report.

Kabwe, a resident of Twapia township in Ndola, emphasized that his ability to concentrate on his responsibilities was impacted, which negatively affected his work output and contributions to his family's welfare.

Kabwe's story exemplifies a common challenge faced by many young couples in Zambia, where issues of mistrust often complicate marriage realities. His experience highlights the broader societal and relational difficulties that can hinder marital harmony among youth in this mining town. 

Despite concerted efforts to curb gender-based violence in Zambia, the latest government report shows more than 10,000 incidents recorded in just the second quarter of 2025. This reflects the deep-rooted influence of harmful gender stereotypes, patriarchal norms, economic inequalities and inadequate legal protections in the country. 

Gender activists say these factors contribute to a culture where violence against women is normalized and often goes unchallenged, hence the need for comprehensive interventions that challenge these social norms and strengthen legal and community responses to gender-based violence.

Similarly, the experience of Aaron and Roiness Chimfwembe from Ndola's Kavu area illustrates that even long-lasting marriages, like their 10-year union built on mutual affection, face challenges.

"The major issue in our relationship was Aaron's secrecy regarding his phone, which was always password protected and I had no access to it. This secrecy contributed to our growing insecurities over time," Roiness told GSR.

In October 2023, Roiness persuaded her husband to enroll in the SMART Couples Methodology program, facilitated by the Dominican Sisters of the Sacred Heart under the Ndola Diocese. The initiative, which has successfully served more than 20 couples in Ndola, is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. church's Catholic Relief Services to strengthen family life and enhance communication within households by overcoming mistrust and fostering openness, honesty and mutual respect between partners.

Roiness told GSR that the couple's understanding of the importance of transparency and openness was strengthened through the program as was their renewed trust. Aaron, after an impactful session, decided to remove the password from his phone and directly handed it to her, saying, "I trust you completely, and I want you to know that there's nothing I'm hiding."

Aaron and Roiness Chimfwembe at a SMART Couple Methodology counseling session (GSR photo/Derrick Silimina)

For Roiness, Aaron's gesture was a significant turning point in their relationship, symbolizing a deepening of trust and honesty, as it was not merely about accessing Aaron's phone, but his commitment to fidelity and transparency. 

Geoffrey Chibamba and Mwansa Musonda's marriage was recently at the verge of collapse, but was revived thanks to the SMART Couples Methodology.

"Had it not been the sisters' timely initiative, I would have divorced my husband. But after our participation in the programme, our love life has now blossomed," Musonda said. 

Musonda was so moved by the sisters' initiative, that she became one of the "lead mothers" of the project in her community. 

"Our quarrels used to affect our children's upbringing and I became hostile to my husband's relatives. Thanks to the sisters' timely project for saving our marriage."

The high rates of divorce cases in the country have led to concern among government officials and religious leaders. The latest reports indicate a rise from 20,818 divorces in 2019 to 36,000 in 2023. Infidelity and drunkenness are frequently cited as major reasons for these separations.

The SMART Couples Methodology project coordinator, Sr. Christine Tembo, emphasized that the initiative involves offering formation sessions, couples counseling, home visits, and organizing community sensitization activities that encourage mutual love, respect, and Christian family values. These are essential components in preventing gender-based violence and divorce cases, Tembo noted.

Dominican Sr. Christine Tembo speaks to one of her clients ahead of a SMART Couple Methodology counseling session. (GSR photo/Derrick Silimina)

Tembo, a member of the Dominican Sisters of the Sacred Heart, told GSR that since the program was introduced in 2023, more than 20 couples have directly benefited from the sessions and follow-up support. These include both churchgoing and non-church couples who have expressed a genuine desire to grow in their relationships.

"Our main focus is strengthening young couples that are still giving birth, because we are also targeting the children in those homes, so that they can be brought up in a good home," she added.

Tembo measured the impact of the project through post-session evaluations, testimonies, follow-up visits, and feedback from the couples themselves and community members in general.

She expressed optimism that despite some challenges, including limited resources, resistance to change, and cultural barriers that silence victims of abuse, more than seven documented success stories of couples have since chosen to remain together and rebuild their marriages after facing serious domestic conflicts. 

Tembo underscored that by engaging community leaders, offering continuous formation, and networking with local nongovernmental organizations and churches for support through prayer and patience are also key in helping hearts open to transformation.

"So far, we have seen improved communication, renewed commitment among couples, and decreased reports of domestic conflicts in households that have undergone the training. We are on track with our goals of building strong, faith-filled and resilient families," Tembo said.

She stressed that the program has contributed to the couples' well-being by helping them to rediscover each other as partners, and not as opponents, preventing gender-based violence by addressing its root causes of poor communication, unresolved conflict and gender stereotypes. 

"As a Dominican, I am called to preach the truth and promote the dignity of all people. The SMART Couples Methodology is a concrete expression of this charism - bringing healing, reconciliation and hope to families, while empowering them to live in truth and love."

A New Dawn for Zambian SMEs

 

By Derrick Silimina

In the sprawling townships of Zambia’s capital Lusaka, the hum of metalwork and the clatter of car repairs can be heard from some of the country’s many small businesses. 

Artisans like George Tembo, a metalworker in Kalingalinga compound and Michael Kapiji, a mechanic in the city’s bustling Panganani Road, are part of the backbone of the economy. 

They train apprentices, serve local customers and sustain entire households. Yet both men share the same frustration: access to affordable finance remains out of reach.

“Our formal banking system, with its rigid requirements and high interest rates, feels like an impenetrable fortress,” Tembo says. “I dream of expanding, but without capital, those dreams remain stuck in my workshop.”

Kapiji echoes the sentiment. He imagines turning his crowded garage into a skills hub for unemployed youth, offering training in traditional mechanics and new technologies such as auto-electrics and electric vehicle repair. 

“The potential is here,” he says, “but we need investment to unlock it.”

Zambia’s small and medium enterprises are the backbone of local economies, powering communities despite limited access to affordable finance. A new investment platform aims to give them the much-needed boost.

That investment might just have arrived. The Government of Zambia has launched Growth Investment Partners Zambia (GIP), a platform designed to revolutionise financing small and medium enterprises (SME). 

Backed by an initial $ 70 million, the programme aims to bridge the financing gap that has long constrained SMEs.

“SMEs are very important to our country, to any economy,” President Hakainde Hichilema said when the platform was launched in Lusaka in July. “Some of the world’s best-known brands, like Toyota, began as family businesses. We are working to grow our economy, and we cannot ignore this sector.” 

In 2021, Zambia’s government had created a ministry to promote the development and growth of cooperatives and SMEs, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development. 

International funding

GIP Zambia is geared towards a long-term partnership. Alongside the Zambian government, key partners include the development finance institutions of UK and Sweden, British International Investment (BII) and Swedfund, as well as Zambia’s National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA). Together, they plan to deploy more than $ 300 million in investments over the next 15 years.

The UK has pledged to mobilise £ 150 million ($ 200 million) of private investment into Zambian SMEs as part of a broader compact to attract £ 2.5 billion ($ 3.35 billion) into mining, minerals and renewable energy. 

“We see Zambia’s economic future with confidence and believe that inclusive growth can be built by investing in SMEs,” said British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon.

For policymakers, the stakes are clear. SMEs already contribute more than 70 % of Zambia’s GDP and account for nearly 90 % of employment. 

Yet many operate in the informal sector and struggle with barriers to credit, modern technology and reliable markets. By addressing these constraints, GIP Zambia is intended to stimulate growth and reduce poverty and inequality.

Analysts note, however, that financing alone will not be enough. To succeed, the platform must be paired with policies that strengthen value chains, improve training and support digitalisation. 

For entrepreneurs like Tembo and Kapiji, the initiative offers a glimpse of new possibilities. 

Tembo hopes to modernise his workshop and create more jobs in his community. Kapiji envisions apprentices gaining not just mechanical skills but also confidence and purpose. 

“With the right tools and training,” he says, “we can transform lives. Success is not just fixing cars or welding gates – it’s building futures.”