Kitwe Vocational Training Centre

Employment Advert

ELIRC ADVERT.pdf

International Day of Women in Industry

Today, we celebrate the power, resilience, and leadership of women shaping the future of industry.
At the Kitwe Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) under the Project for Promoting Youth Employment Through Construction Equipment Operating Skills Training, we are proud to be part of a global movement advancing women's participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

From operating heavy machinery to leading in technical training environments, women are breaking barriers and redefining what is possible in industrial careers.

Why this matters:
When women are given equal access to skills, opportunities, and industry platforms, entire economies grow stronger, more innovative, and more inclusive.
Through the Project, we are:

✔️ Promoting equal access to technical training
✔️ Supporting women to pursue careers in heavy equipment operations
✔️ Creating pathways for decent work and economic empowerment

As the world marks the first-ever International Day of Women in Industry, we reaffirm our commitment to building an industry where women not only participate, but lead.

To every woman stepping into industry spaces: you are shaping the future.

See our stories here:

✔️ https://lkdfacility.org/news/breaking-ground-building-dreams-a-womans-journey-in-heavy-equipment-operation

✔️ https://lkdfacility.org/news/a-story-of-resilience-demand-driven-skills-opening-doors-for-young-women

Video:
✔️ https://youtu.be/V70Kb2kun-U?si=Scq6Le8AStqIqnRC

Livingstone, Zambia | EIZ Symposium 2026

At the ongoing Engineering Institution of Zambia Symposium in Livingstone, Kitwe Vocational Training Centre, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and Hitachi Construction Machinery are jointly exhibiting under a unified platform, and showcasing the Project for Promoting Youth Employment through Construction Equipment Operating Skills Training.

The project is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving the Government of Zambia, the Government of Japan, Hitachi Construction Machinery, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, working collaboratively to strengthen industry-aligned skills development in Zambia.

The exhibition provides stakeholders an opportunity to engage with a scalable model aligned with national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 4,5,9,17.

Participants attending the symposium are encouraged to visit the booth to learn more about the project’s outcomes, partnerships, and impact.

Operators, what is the correct answer ?

Its Fridaaaaay… let’s put your safety knowledge to the test, shall we? 👷🏾‍♂️

Which excavator is parked the correct way and why?
A, B, C, or D? 🤔

Drop your answer in the comments and let’s see who’s safety smart!

Remember: Safe parking protects people, machines, and productivity.

Happy Friday and have a lovey and safe Weekend!

We made it in Friday's Times of Zambia newspaper!

Ministry of Technology and Science - Zambia
Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Zambia -在ザンビア日本国大使館
Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Co., Limited
Teveta Zambia
United Nations in Zambia
UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Read the full press release on the launch of our modern Heavy Equipment Operator Training Workshop and what it means for skills development.

Ministry of Technology and Science - Zambia
Teveta Zambia
Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Co., Limited
Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Zambia -在ザンビア日本国大使館

Press Release

Zambia, Japan, Hitachi and UNIDO Launch Modern Training Workshop to Boost Demand-Driven Skills and Youth Employment

Kitwe, Zambia – 27 March 2026 — The Government of the Republic of Zambia, in partnership with the Government of Japan, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia, on 25th March 2026 inaugurated a modern Heavy Equipment Operator Training Workshop at Kitwe Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), marking a major milestone in Zambia’s skills development and industrialisation agenda.

The ceremony was officiated by the Copperbelt Provincial Minister, Honourable Mr.Elisha Matambo, MP, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Technology and Science, Mr. Felix C. Mutati, MP.

In remarks delivered on behalf of the Minister, Government underscored the significance of the investment:
“This occasion marks far more than the commissioning of infrastructure. It signifies the commissioning of opportunity, productivity, and transformation. Our collective investment in the future of Zambia’s skilled workforce.”

He further emphasized:
“No nation can rise beyond the capacity of its people. A skilled, innovative, and disciplined workforce remains the foundation of sustainable development.”

Japan’s Ambassador to Zambia, H.E. Mr. Akiteru Mikami, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Zambia’s development:
“This initiative will greatly contribute to Zambia’s goal of increasing copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031, while equipping young people with the skills needed for employment and national development.”

The new facility will significantly enhance Zambia’s capacity to train skilled heavy equipment operators to meet growing demand in the mining, construction, and infrastructure sectors.

Under the TEVET Bursary Scheme, supported students increased from 150 in 2025 to 458 in 2026. Since the programme’s launch in 2021, more than 390 trainees including 30% women have successfully graduated, with over 1,000 applications received to date.
The USD 4.4 million initiative reflects strong collaboration between government, international partners, and the private sector, combining infrastructure investment, curriculum modernization, and capacity building.

United Nations Zambia Resident Coordinator, Ms. Beatrice Mutali, highlighted the broader social impact:
“For the students who will train here, this facility is a gateway to dignity, decent work, and economic independence, where potential is transformed into productivity.”

UNIDO Chief Ms. Virpi Stucki emphasized the programme’s transformational value:
“Today’s inauguration is more than the opening of a workshop. It represents skills that empower youth, strength through partnership, and success that benefits individuals, industry, and the nation.”

Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia President, Mr. Nobuhiko Saito, underscored the role of industry:
“We are not simply opening a building, we are opening a gateway of opportunity for Zambia’s youth and strengthening the technical backbone of the nation’s industrial future.”

As part of its contribution, Hitachi donated a state-of-the-art Dump Truck Simulator, enabling safe, practical, and industry-aligned training.

In addition, Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia and Kitwe Vocational Training Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize long-term collaboration in skills development and future programme expansion.

KVTC Board Chairperson Reverend Hendie Bwalya described the milestone as transformative:
“This modern facility is more than new infrastructure. It is a working classroom, a training ground, and a platform for skills development.”

KVTC Principal Mr. Chrispin Kakoma highlighted the operational impact:
“It will change how we teach, how our students learn, and how we prepare them for the world of work.”
The facility increases KVTC’s annual training capacity from approximately 125 to over 300 students, strengthening Zambia’s technical skills base and responsiveness to industry demand.

TEVETA Director General Mr. Cleophas Takaiza emphasized the national importance of the initiative:
“Through facilities like this, we are doing more than training individuals, we are building a skilled, productive, and globally competitive workforce.”

He further announced that KVTC is currently undergoing the process to attain Centre of Excellence status in Heavy Equipment Operation, expected by April 2026, subject to meeting regulatory requirements.

The programme’s real impact was reflected in the testimony of KVTC graduate Ms. Nancy Chanda:
“We are not simply witnessing the opening of a workshop. We are witnessing the opening of opportunity for young people like me whose lives have been transformed through skills training.”
Her journey from training to employment highlights the programme’s success in creating pathways to meaningful livelihoods.

The new facility aligns with Zambia’s broader development priorities, including strengthening the mining sector, expanding infrastructure, and building a resilient, diversified economy.
Government and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a second phase of the programme, focusing on advanced skills such as equipment maintenance, automation, and emerging technologies.

The inauguration of the KVTC Heavy Equipment Operator Training Workshop stands as a powerful testament to Zambia’s commitment to building a skilled, inclusive, and future-ready workforce capable of driving sustainable economic growth.

Ministry of Technology and Science - Zambia
Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Zambia -在ザンビア日本国大使館
United Nations in Zambia
UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Teveta Zambia
Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Co., Limited