Six cooperatives in Solwezi have received K200,000 each from Kansanshi Mining Plc.
The funding comes as an addition to an earlier grant of K756,000 given to the same groups in February.
Kansanshi Mining PLC Contracts Manager Pamela Chola, who is also leader of the community initiative called Tujipamo, presented the cheques to the cooperatives and said the mining company believed in their potential to positively impact their communities.
“The partnership between Kansanshi Mine and the cooperatives will run for one year, during which the mine will pilot the project using resources generated from selling scrap materials at the mine site. The primary aim of this initiative is to promote economic growth not only in Solwezi and North-Western Province but also across the entire country.”
The grant is part of Kansanshi Mining Plc Corporate Social Responsibility support for initiatives which create business and networking opportunities, enhance capacity-building for local enterprises and generate employment.
The chairpersons of the beneficiary cooperatives expressed their gratitude for the support and pledged to make the most of the opportunity to uplift their communities.
Bertha Chabala, Chairperson of Samarai Multi-purpose Cooperative, applauded the initiative and called for cooperative collaboration to ensure its success.
“Our aim is to empower women in the communities financially, as we believe this will lead to overall national development. We are grateful for the funds we have received, and we encourage other cooperatives to join forces and share ideas to bring positive change to North-Western Province,” she said.
Philip Kapijimpanga, Chairperson of Mutezhi Multi-purpose Cooperative, recognized the project’s potential impact on the region’s youth, and saluted the company’s commitment to that cause.
The six cooperatives, Mutezhi, Twibamo, Twinkle, Samarai, Norwestec, and Hidden Wisdom, are involved in poultry farming, pigs and chicken rearing.
