Employers who take empowerment of workers seriously ought to be commended.
Lack of investment has left many Zambian workers in abject poverty once they leave employment.
It is not that people do not want to invest in property or acquisition of land and home ownership, but rather that financial constraints make this almost impossible.
To start with, banks are not willing to lend money to just any one who walks into their premises.
The stringent regulations and demands or requirements, make it impossible for workers to access loans, not to talk about satanic lending rates
Consequently, dreams die with lack of funding.
That is why more and more employers are resorting to empowering workers in different ways that include provision of land for development into small holder business or residential.
We have in mind, Capital Buses proprietor, Ishmael Kankara, who has acquired land for his employees.
Mr Kankara said his company has acquired 16 hectares of land in Katuba area which will be shared among all the capital buses employees regardless of their position as long as they meet the laid down criteria.
Capital Buses chairperson Evans Mwape says the 16 hectares land will be subdivided into 250 plots which will comprise 230 houses, a school and a clinic.
This is true empowerment which other employers could emulate. It is a commendable move that more than 250 bus drivers are being empowered through home ownership.
This is the development that will help to move Zambia forward.
Instead of looking at what government can do for his workers, Mr Kankara has decided to help them himself after noticing that they had started a project that would help many.
Land ownership is a big development both at individual and national level.
This is an empowerment that would allow the owners to engage in small-scale business and farming if they so wish.
This would also provide the workers with a retirement plan which many do not have.
It is indeed such projects that give workers confidence and encourages them to contribute to the company effectively.
