By Joy Sichizya in Solwezi
Solwezi Municipal Council has trained 22 women in Kimasala ward in Bottle décor, Knitting, Doormat making, Entrepreneurship and Village banking
Speaking during the awarding ceremony, Kimasala Ward Councillor Nephan Kamwandi commended the council for empowering the women with life sustaining skills.
Mr Kamwandi said such delivery of services by the local authority to the people helps to improve the lives of people so that they become self-reliant and supplement efforts of their spouses.
He said such initiatives demonstrate that the council is living up to its mandate of providing community services by training the women in life changing skills.
The civic leader paid tribute to the Council for its proactiveness in the quest of bringing the community together and ensuring that the municipal services are appreciated by the people of Solwezi.
Speaking at the same event, Solwezi Municipal Council Director of Housing and Services Andrew Kalemba said the skills training program was aimed at enhancing women participation in economic activities.
Mr Kalemba said such training will encourage them to create self-employment as well as the council is trying to develop a quality skilled workforce of women entrepreneurs relevant to the current and emerging employment needs.
He is convinced that the women group that will be formed will engage in income generating activities thus contribute to the third pillar of the Seventh National Development Plan which aims at poverty and vulnerability reduction.
“According to the Local Government Act No 2. of 2019, A local authority shall, in relation to community development prepare and administer schemes for the encouragement of and participation in, community development.
“Hence, the municipality has continued with the initiative of training women in various skills that are essential for improvement of their livelihood,” he said.
And speaking of behalf of the women Idah Nkonde thanked the council for the knowledge imparted in various skills.
Ms Nkonde appealed to the Council to help in looking for a market for their products for sustenance of their businesses.
The women were overjoyed that having been trained in bottle décor, doormat making, knitting as well as entrepreneurship and village banking, they now have an opportunity to start their own businesses and reduce dependency on their spouses.
The writer is the Public Relations Officer at Solwezi Municipal Council.
