Namushi Sitali: A Journey Of Resilience, Innovation, And Hope

At 53 years old, Namushi Sitali is rewriting what it means to dream again. A mother of five and a Form 1 pupil at Uphill Day Secondary School in Itezhi-tezhi, Namushi has become a beacon of courage and innovation in her community.

After decades away from the classroom, she returned to school with a renewed purpose — to learn, grow, and make a difference. Inspired by the realities of climate change and deforestation, Namushi developed an ingenious solution: charcoal made from maize cobs and cassava powder, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional firewood.

Her passion for education and innovation earned her recognition through Excel Magazine’s Seed Capital Initiative, where she received K7,500 in support to expand her project, build a production shelter, and empower her community with affordable, eco-friendly energy.

Namushi’s journey is one of determination and vision — a reminder that innovation knows no age limit, and that resilience, when coupled with opportunity, can spark lasting change.

By Namushi Sitali

First of all, I would like to say thank you to Excel Magazine for this chance to feature in the magazine and for the seed fund of K7,500 towards my business. This money is really going to help me a lot. I plan to use it to build a small shelter where I can make my charcoal and keep my ingredients safe. That same shelter will also work as a small shop where I’ll be selling the charcoal from. I really appreciate this support — it means a lot to me.

Tell us about yourself
Namushi: My name is Namushi Sitali. I am 53 years old and a Form 1 pupil at Uphill Day Secondary School in Itezhi-tezhi District. I am also a mother of five children, three boys and two girls. I stopped school in Grade 4 in 1986 when I was 13 years old. After so many years of learning life challenges, I decided to go back to school in Grade 6 under the adult education class at Kasankwa Primary School.

What motivated you to return to school at this stage?
Namushi: I realized as a human being, that in order for me to live and be able to survive with the harsh and much demanding developments, I needed to learn how to read, write, understand and at least speak a bit of other languages especially English. I will be able to acquire a bit of knowledge to help me run my own small business. The pronouncement of free education by the Republican President Hakainde Hichilema gave me the energy and hope that I would achieve my heart’s desires.

What does education mean to you personally?
Namushi: Education is like an office… before you enter, one cannot know what is inside. So go in there and you will learn about the whole world. It also opens someone’s mind to know the outside world, especially when you know how to read and write. In this age we are living, education must be a requirement for everyone. According to me, education also means it is a stairway for anyone to become anybody in life.

What inspired you to take interest in science and innovations?
Namushi: I was inspired by the fact that innovations provide a platform for everyone who is thirsty for knowledge and has the curiosity to learn and know new things. Innovations provide the much-needed solutions to our day-to-day problems and challenges starting right from household to national and global. Innovations help me to know more and advance my knowledge.

What things can people be surprised to learn about you?
Namushi: People will be surprised to know I am a 53 years old lady who goes to a normal school and in Form 1, learning in the same grade and class with my last born son who is 14 years old. They may also be surprised to know how much I have learnt in the short time I have been in school.

Who is the person you admire and why?
Namushi: The Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, Madam Mutale Nalumango. Her zeal for education and her courage to become the Republican Vice President.

What inspired you to create this project?
Namushi: I do feel the impact of climate change; the droughts, intense heat, load shedding and other challenges that come with the effects of deforestation. Now in the quest to finding solutions to these problems I thought of corn cob charcoal in order to reduce the rate at which humans are cutting down trees.

What is your solution for firewood and how does it work?
Namushi: The solution to stop firewood cutting is my innovation of corn cob charcoal. I am making some very sustainable charcoal from empty maize cobs and cassava powder. It is a very powerful energy source that can satisfactorily meet the home demands and can also be useful for heating in industries.

Can you explain your project in simple terms and what it is all about and how does it matter?
Namushi: My project is an innovation that uses local and neglected materials that may not be environmentally friendly if left unattended to. It removes dirt from the environment and protects the trees, since the charcoal is now coming from the empty maize cobs thrown away. It provides a genuine solution to the demands for the much-needed source of energy for cooking all kinds of foods in a home.

What challenges did you face while developing your idea?
Namushi: I had challenges with the access to Internet to help me do more research on the scientific finding regarding my idea. Having limited literacy level, I mostly relied on my teacher Mr. Kyabala J D to help put the ideas together, access the internet and typing of the project scripts. A challenge still stands as commercializing the project will require me to purchase some processing machines and equipment.

How did it feel to be selected to participate in the JETS fairs?
Namushi: I felt good, and I was very excited, because it was like a dream come true for me to showcase my idea especially at National level.

How do you hope your invention will impact the community?
Namushi: My charcoal is cheap thus it is economical at household level. It is readily available because it is produced right in the community. The citizens will enjoy the type of cooking energy that lasts longer on the brazier. Users will enjoy using the product as the energy produces less emissions, therefore this type of charcoal can be used indoors.

How do you see your project being scaled or applied beyond your school or community?
Namushi: It is a massive project if supported and sponsored. It is a kind of energy source that will replace most sources in our households in the community.

If given resources or investment what improvement or expansion would you make?
Namushi: We would do more research on the production and improve the quality of the briquette. I would appreciate it a lot and that would be deemed as prayers answered. Thus, I would create a company to be supplying the much needed ‘Nashi Charcoal’ made from my project to all towns throughout the country.

What changes would you like to see in your community?
Namushi: People should revert to using this kind of innovation if we are to find solutions to the issues of climate change. My innovation is a solution to less rainfall patterns. Thus, if it is embraced, trees will be spared and we could be moving in the right direction in trying to reduce load shedding of electricity.

How do you balance your studies with your innovation works?
Namushi: I spare weekends and holidays to work on my innovations, but during school days I do pay much attention to attending classes and I also have to look for resources to find food for my family.

How do you think innovations can help solve everyday problems in Zambia?
Namushi: As a country Zambia we have so many problems and challenges that need more innovation in different fields just like my project. By applying and practicing not hiding our ideas (innovations). Performing various research in finding solutions.

If you could invent anything else, what would it be?
Namushi: I would love to find cures for HIV/AIDS and cancerous diseases.

What advice would you give to your fellow inventors or students?
Namushi: I want to encourage my fellow inventors to remain focused and never to quit nor give up on their work. All they have to do especially those that did not make it to the finals, is to keep working and improving their innovations. Every innovation is a good idea, and they all deserve to be given some attention, and also opportunity to explain their idea and be heard.

What words do you have for our Leaders?
Namushi: I would love to say quite a good number of things to our leaders and the government at large. Government should give more support to our inventors countrywide. There is need to support JETS programs financially in order for the activities to flourish in schools. Government should provide a favorable platform for a fair and protected environment, especially for product protection. There is need to reinforce the law with regards to intellectual property protection. Government should consider taking good schools and health facilities to the most remote areas of Zambian communities.

I say so because there are people whose innovations are never heard. This is so because they do not have access to the schools where they could get more knowledge from the teachers. I want to take this rare privilege and opportunity to thank my teacher Mr. Kyabala because he has been a great leader in guiding me throughout my struggles to build and get this project to where it has reached. Finally, I want to thank the Government and our Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema for the continued support to the people with challenges and the underprivileged throughout Zambia. Social cash transfer and cash for work has very much liberated many households in Zambia especially in the middle of droughts and climate change problems being paused on the communities.