From Solwezi Workshop to Mining Supply Chain: Kansanshi’s Accelerator Programme Backs Local Shoemaker

SOLWEZI, ZAMBIA – A leather workshop that once produced just one pair of shoes a day is now positioning itself to supply Zambia’s mining industry, thanks to Kansanshi Mining PLC’s push to build a genuine local‑content supply chain.

Evans Bwalya, founder of EB Stitch Leather Limited, taught himself shoemaking through YouTube tutorials after failing to find footwear that met his needs locally.

What began as a personal experiment has grown into a business producing safety, casual and school shoes and now, with five sewing machines, EB Stitch is targeting 300 pairs per month.

That growth has been driven by Kansanshi’s SME Accelerator Programme, which identifies promising local businesses and helps them meet the standards required to participate in the mining value chain.

The initiative reflects Kansanshi’s broader strategy: moving beyond traders to support manufacturers who can deliver lasting economic value.

Building Value Beyond the Mine

According to Ryan Ellis, Corporate Affairs Manager at Kansanshi Mining PLC, the programme is designed to nurture businesses that add value rather than simply resell imported goods.

“A trader may make quick returns,” Ellis said, “but a manufacturing business can continue serving the wider market long after the mine is no longer there.”

He underscored the point with a vivid image: “Even one day after Kansanshi closes down, we’ve got over 20 million people in Zambia  that’s 40 million feet. Those people will still need shoes.”

The message is clear: Kansanshi wants to leave behind more than copper exports. It wants to seed industries that will continue to thrive when the mine eventually winds down.

EB Stitch’s Transformation

For Bwalya, the accelerator programme has been more than an equipment upgrade. Mentorship introduced him to financial management, business formalisation and the importance of separating personal and company finances.

“When you start a business, what we think about is producing a product, and that’s what I thought initially,” he said. “But that’s not it. You need systems, you need discipline, you need to think beyond the next sale.”

The company has also achieved certification from the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) for its safety footwear  a milestone that opens the door to institutional markets. With expanded capacity, EB Stitch plans to train more shoemakers, creating jobs in a sector where technical skills are scarce.

Mining Market Potential

The mining industry represents a demanding but lucrative market. At Kansanshi, footwear must withstand sharp rocks, extreme temperatures and heavy use.

Ellis said tenders from local companies will be considered favourably when products meet quality standards and are competitively priced.

“Local ownership cannot replace quality and safety,” he stressed. “The accelerator is about helping businesses reach that level before they compete for larger opportunities.”

For EB Stitch, the challenge is not only producing more shoes but ensuring they meet the rigorous standards of mining operations. Certification, durability testing and competitive pricing will all determine whether the company can break into the supply chain.

A Pipeline of Suppliers

Kansanshi Mining currently has 66 businesses in its accelerator programme, each at different stages of development. The first cohort is expected to begin transitioning into supply opportunities from 2027, with companies introduced progressively to build capacity and prove reliability.

The programme is structured as a pipeline: small businesses enter, receive support to strengthen operations, and once they have developed sufficient capacity, they move to Kansanshi’s commercial team to compete for contracts.

For EB Stitch, that could mean starting with smaller supply opportunities perhaps footwear for lower‑risk areas of the mine  before scaling up to meet the needs of thousands of employees.

Beyond Kansanshi

The accelerator’s ultimate goal is bigger than mine supply. Solwezi’s economy is expanding rapidly, and Kansanshi wants to ensure local businesses can thrive independently.

Ellis added that the challenge is identifying enterprises with the potential to create lasting value within that expanding local economy. “We’re not just building suppliers for Kansanshi,” he explained. “We’re building businesses that can stand on their own.”

Bwalya shares that ambition. “We want to be supplying footwear across the country and to the mines locally produced products, not those that are imported,” he said.

The Human Story

Behind the statistics and strategy lies a personal journey. Bwalya’s path began with frustration at the lack of suitable footwear in Zambia.

His decision to learn shoemaking from YouTube was born of necessity, but it quickly became a passion.

From one machine producing a single pair a day to a workshop with five machines and a monthly target of 300 pairs, EB Stitch’s growth reflects both entrepreneurial grit and institutional support.

The company’s story also illustrates the broader potential of Zambia’s SMEs: with mentorship, certification and access to markets, small workshops can evolve into industrial suppliers.

Local Content as Industrial Policy

Kansanshi’s accelerator is part of a wider debate about local content in Africa’s mining sector. Too often, “local content” has meant buying from traders who import goods and resell them. Kansanshi’s approach investing in manufacturers

aims to create deeper economic linkages.

By supporting businesses like EB Stitch, the mine is not only meeting procurement targets but also contributing to industrial diversification.

The footwear industry may seem small compared to copper exports, but it represents a step toward building a more resilient economy.

The road to becoming a mining supplier is long. EB Stitch must scale production, maintain quality, and compete on price.

But with certification in hand, new equipment installed, and mentorship shaping its business practices, the company is better positioned than ever.

For Kansanshi, the success of EB Stitch would validate its accelerator model: proof that local businesses can move from workshops to industrial supply chains.

And for Solwezi, it would mean more than shoes. It would mean jobs, skills and industries that endure beyond the life of the mine.