By Sifuwe Mwangala

With what others regard as mere weed and trash, Namakau Muhau of Muoyo Royal Village in Nalolo District of Western Province, sees beauty and opportunities in it.

At 65 years old, her ability to see potential in ordinary grass, reeds and litter, demonstrates resourcefulness and commitment to sustainable practices.

Ms Muhau uses grass and reeds to weave baskets, hats, brooms and bags. She also picks discarded empty packets of biscuits from the streets and transforms them into fashionable handbags.

While her friends and others attended formal training at craft centres near their locality, Ms Muhau improved her skill through observation and an unwavering determination to learn.

Her journey is a testament to the power of resourcefulness, creativity and the pursuit of one’s passion.

The baskets that Ms Muhau weaves are used for decorations, storing household goods and even carrying groceries and food stuff when the women go out shopping.

“Carrying shopping items in the baskets is easy and reduces the throwing of litter anyhow, which also protects the environment,” she notes.

Unlike other women that would depend on the government for their livelihood or well-wishers to give handouts, Ms Muhau, who works with two other women and a man, weaves and crafts things to earn an income to sustain themselves and their families.

“Life has been difficult for me, especially since my husband left me ten years ago. But I refused to be dependent on the government or wait for handouts. I found something to do, something that brought me joy and helped me provide for myself and my family,” she pointed out.

Ms Muhau explains that she picks dry grass and reeds from the open forest and uses it to make the baskets and handbags for business.

“As a district, we are currently experiencing drought, as we have not had enough rain, so even the grass is dry hence we use the same grass to make traditional items,” she said.

The 65 year old’s resourcefulness and creativity not only enriched her own life but also has had a positive impact on her community.

Through her innovative creations, Ms Muhau not only showcases her artistic ability but also advocates for waste management, sustainable practices, to address the impact of polluting the environment.

 “I make sure that my environment is clean from any harmful substances, therefore I pick litter such as used biscuits packets which I normally use to make ladies bags,” says Ms Muhau.

Ms Muhau stated that she formed a group comprising three women and one man, adding that the three women are specialised in weaving and the man is into carving traditional wooden plates that are used as warmers.

By using natural materials, these artisans are reducing their reliance on non-renewable resources and contributing to sustainable resource management.

Through their collective efforts, they are also able to earn a sustainable income that supports not only themselves but as well as their families.

Ms Muhau says that, at times there are women that come to observe what they do; and she uses such moments to sensitise the women on the benefits of recycling and providing guidance on proper waste disposal.

Ms Muhau and her group’s story serves as an inspiration to others, illustrating the power of determination, resourcefulness, and the pursuit of one’s passion.

Their ability to find value in what others discard and transform it into something meaningful, is a reminder that opportunities for success and fulfillment can be found in the most unexpected places.

As for 60-year-old Kandombwe Kapenda, the only man in Ms Muhau’s group, who also hails from Muoyo Royal Village, carving wooden plates became part of his life when he was young.

Mr Kapenda, who is married with five children, says he enjoys transforming wood   because wooden plates hold a special place in the Zambian tradition as it serves as both storage for food and decorations.

“The wooden plates are not only a vessel for food storage but also bearers of heritage and symbolism,” he explains.

Mr Kapenda further says that he usually carves under a tree where he sits with others and keeps alive the stories and customs of his ancestors, adding that by doing so, the history and knowledge about the rich Zambian culture is passed on from one generation to the other.

By practicing and passing down these skills from one generation to the next, artisans contribute to the preservation of traditional knowledge and cultural practices.

However, Mr Kapenda and his fellow artisans face challenges in accessing reliable marketplaces to showcase their creations to a wider market.

“We appeal for assistance in terms of market linkages because we come from a rural area where only a few people are able to buy our products,” he pointed out.

Mr Kapenda believes that carving of wooden plates has potential to be a sustainable and economically viable industry, supporting numerous families while preserving the Zambian traditions.

Boyd Mutengo, who is Nalolo District Agriculture Coordinator, says weaving baskets and carving wooden plates serves as adaptive mechanisms to climate change and variability.

“Weaving acts as a source of income during drought and summer periods, as the materials are easily accessible in the open forest,” says Mr Mutengo.

He advises that to ensure sustainability, the artisans should embark on planting trees regularly to replace those used in their craft work.

Mr Mutengo says, being an agriculturalist, he advocates for tree planting as an effective way to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“It is important for people who are involved in weaving and curving to always engage in practices such as reforestation to ensure the long-term availability of the resources they depend on,” he said.

Mr Mutengo also encouraged the Muhau crafting group to explore opportunities by participating in local craft fairs, national events, celebration, community events and farmers activities to showcase their creations and also to widen their market.

“The group can also collaborate and partner with local organisations and the hospitality industry by having their products displayed for visitors and tourists to easily access them,” he pointed out.

Mr Mutengo said taking advantage of national events such as Youth Day, Women’s Day and Independence Day can also create more markets for them to showcase their skills and wares.