Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development is hosting a free exhibition for SMEs at MAKENI Mall in Lusaka!!

Feel free to come through and see what our hardworking SMEs have to offer.

We look forward to seeing you!

All smiles at last Cabinet meeting

By State House Media

President Hakainde Hichilema at State House today chaired the last Cabinet meeting of the UPND's first five-year in government.

The fifth session of the 13th National Assembly adjourned sine die on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

With regard to the dissolution of Parliament, Article 81 (3) of the Constitution of Zambia provides as follows:

81(3) Parliament shall stand dissolved 90 days before the holding of the next general elections."

Additionally, Article 56 (1) of the Constitution prescribes the date for the holding of a general election as follows:

56 (1) A general election shall be held every five years after the last general election, on the second Thursday of August."

In an election year, Parliament stands dissolved automatically 90 days before the second Thursday of August.

The second Thursday of August for the forthcoming general election falls on Thursday, 13th August, 2026 and accordingly, 90 days before that date is Friday, 15th May, 2026.

In view of the foregoing, Parliament shall stand dissolved by operation of law on Friday, 15th May, 2026.

May 14, 2026

An early morning full of smiles 📸 with some members of staff as we say goodbye to the Minister, Hon. Mufunelo Malama.

Hon. Malama Mufunelo, MP

MSMED and JICA Empower Zambian SMEs with US$100,000 Equipment Boost

Lusaka, Zambia - Tuesday, 12th April, 2026 – The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED), in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has reaffirmed its commitment to grassroots industrial growth.

Earlier today, the Ministry celebrated a major milestone under the MSMED–JICA Joint Empowerment Programme, awarding five promising Zambian small-scale businesses with production equipment worth USD $20,000 each, marking a total investment of USD $100,000.

The handover ceremony marked the culmination of a rigorous capacity-building journey. Before receiving the tools of production, the selected entrepreneurs underwent intensive training in Kaizen (the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement), ILO SIYB (Start and Improve Your Business) management principles, and dedicated mentorship.

The equipment is expected to significantly reduce manual labor, improve product quality, and enable bulk production – allowing each enterprise to move from survival to sustainable scaling.

The five beneficiary enterprises are:

1. Sabs Agro Dealers – Agricultural inputs and produce.
2. Succulent Brands – Specialty food and beverage products.
3. Bwikalo Embroidery – Custom textile and brand embroidery.
4. Mupapa Wood – High-end carpentry and furniture.
5. Travium Limited – Logistics and general supplies.

Speaking at the event, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mr. Nicholas Chikwenya, noted that access to finance and modern equipment remains the single largest barrier for SMEs.

The Chief of Mission of the Japanese Embassy, Mr. Satoshi Ominato said by coupling Kaizen efficiency with ILO business management and then inserting capital equipment, we are not just giving handouts – we are engineering market-ready industries.

Chief Representative of JICA Zambia, Dr. Tomoko Ono, emphasized that the programme is designed to create a ripple effect: empowered SMEs are expected to hire more workers, reduce post-harvest or production losses, and serve as case studies for other entrepreneurs.

One of the recipients, visibly elated, shared: “For years we depended on small-scale, high-cost manual methods. The Kaizen training taught us to eliminate waste, and now this equipment will let us actually compete with larger players.”

With the tools now handed over, the next phase will include post-distribution monitoring and advanced market linkage support – ensuring that the USD $20,000 per business translates into measurable job creation and revenue growth.

Issued by:
Virginia Chilongo
Principal Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise
[email protected]

Happy Mother's Day to all our women Tamanga's and hustlers out there ❤️ Yours is a path of sacrifice, perseverance and strength! Mulibakuleka fye! 🙌🏽