By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia’s capital-Lusaka, have appealed to government to focus on skills development within local markets, arguing that existing practical skills remain largely untapped due to weak coordination and policy gaps.
Speaking on behalf of SMEs, tailor Rabson Msoni of Mwasauko Market in Lusaka’s Garden Compound, said many traders and artisans already possess valuable hands-on skills, but lack structured support to fully develop and commercialize them.
In an interview, Mr. Msoni stressed that the more pressing challenge for SMEs is the absence of deliberate government engagement aimed at developing and recognizing skills already present in markets.
“In our cooperative market, there are people with real, practical skills. What we need is government presence on the ground to help develop these skills to higher standards, so that we are not only self-employed but also able to export what we produce,” he said.
He explained that market traders and artisans are actively involved in technical fields such as mechanics, metal fabrication, carpentry, tailoring, fashion and design, yet government empowerment programmes often overlook them in favour of intermediaries.
According to Mr. Msoni, public contracts and empowerment opportunities frequently benefit middlemen rather than the skilled individuals doing the actual work.
“If government had a deliberate policy to identify skilled people directly in markets and engage them without brokers, empowerment would be much broader. Quality would also improve because there would be no one taking money in between,”Mr. Msoni added.
He further observed that despite government efforts to promote skills development through institutions and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), there is a disconnect between formal training centres and realities on the ground.
Mr. Msoni proposed a collaborative approach in which government first identifies skilled individuals operating in markets and communities, supports them to improve standards, and then works with institutions such as the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) to certify them through trade testing.
“This approach would rapidly raise skills standards, create employment and ensure local artisans are better positioned to participate in national development projects,” he stated.
He emphasized that the Government needs to assess who is already doing the work, bring in experts to upgrade their skills, and use them to train others.
“If we work together, skills development can deliver visible impact in our communities within a short time. Strengthening market-based skills is essential for sustainable SME growth and inclusive economic development,” he asserted.
