SKILLS development sits at the heart of the government’s economic growth agenda for inclusive development. The Government has adopted strategic policies to ensure both women and men have access to practical, relevant and employable skills that lift households out of poverty and drive national productivity.

This government commitment is reflected in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) that has placed a strong spotlight on women by mainstreaming gender equality across its four strategic pillars. The goal of the 8NDP is to close persistent gender gaps in social and economic development and ensure that women are not left behind in the country’s transformation journey.

The government has placed a high premium on women and their role in national development. Therefore, many initiatives have been put in place to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and to expand women’s access to health services, education and economic resources as critical development necessities. Empowered women contribute to stronger families, resilient communities, and a more productive economy.

Within this broader national framework, Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) has been identified as a powerful tool for increasing productivity and reducing poverty. TEVET equips citizens with hands-on, market-relevant and entrepreneurial skills aligned to labour market needs. However, for many years the sector has been largely male-dominated.

 Deep-seated perceptions have persisted that engineering-related programmes such as Automotive Mechanics, Power Electrical and other technical trades are too demanding and therefore “meant for men.” Determined to change this narrative, the government developed different deliberate programmes to promote women’s participation in TEVET. 

Central to this initiative is the showcasing of women who have taken up the challenge, broken stereotypes and are excelling in technical and leadership roles within the sector. One such trailblazer is Ms. Mirriam Mwale, Principal of Chipata Trades Training Institute. 

With vast experience in the TEVET sector, Ms. Mwale stands as a powerful example of what is possible when women are given equal opportunities to learn, lead, and thrive. Her leadership not only demonstrates women’s capability to manage and excel in technical institutions, but also inspires young girls and women to consider careers they may once have thought were out of reach.

TEVETA in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) under the European Union (EU) funded project known as Skills Development for Increased Employability Project (SDEP); is changing mindsets by profiling women in male dominated programmes in TEVET. The initiative promotes inclusivity and align skills development with Zambia’s national development priorities. As more women step into technical training and leadership roles, the TEVET sector is gradually transforming—proving that skills, innovation and excellence know no gender.

Ms. Mwale was inspired by her father who was an engineer and specialised in agriculture. She used his inspiration to pursue a course in Automotive Mechanics at Kabwe Institute of Technology in 1988. She used her competencies to repair her father's truck and whenever it broke down. 

Ms. Mwale was later employed by Toyota Zambia where she worked between 1990-1996 as one of the very few women mechanics and later in 1997 decided to pursue a course in Teaching Methodology at Technical and Vocational Teachers' College (TVTC) where she was also employed.

She then moved to Kabwe Institute of Technology where she worked as a lecturer and faced challenges as a female lecturer in Automotive Mechanics with her own students doubting her capacity to deliver in a programme that is male dominated.

“The first class I taught only had male students, they found it difficult to believe that I could teach them the course since I was a woman. I remember my Head of Department summoned me to his office and challenged me to prove that I could do the job,” Ms. Mwale said.

“I worked hard and proved the critics wrong. I didn’t want people to say to my students that they failed because they were taught by a female lecturer,: Ms. Mwale added.

With determination and hard work Ms. Mwale landed herself an opportunity to study engineering in Japan. She was the first African woman to study Automotive Engineering at Higashi Yodogawa Advanced Training College in Osaka Japan. She further obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s Degree at Boston University (UK).

“My survival quote has been that failure happens but what matters is how you rise again from such a setback. Being in TEVET has taught me to work hard and the support that I receive from my family and the Ministry of Technology and Science keeps me motivated. I am happy to have contributed to Zambia and to continue serving the nation," Ms. Mwale added.

She said several students have passed through her hands and have risen through the ranks, adding that the current Transport Officer at the Eastern Province Administration office was her student among other many people that have been employed in various companies.

Ms. Mwale appealed to government through institutions such as TEVETA to come up with deliberate programmes that promote women in their efforts to acquire skills, adding that a lot of efforts have been made to promote women in the country although more still needs to be done to make it easier for women to thrive.