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In the heart of Zambia’s Eastern Province, a remarkable journey is unfolding. Norris Mphanga, a 31-year-old teacher and entrepreneur with albinism from Mphanga Village in Saili Chiefdom, Chipata District, is showing how inclusion and resilience can transform lives. His path has not been without challenges, yet his determination and the support of inclusive systems have positioned him as a role model in both education and enterprise.
Norris’s turning point came in Grade Eight when he enrolled at Magwero School for the Blind. That experience, he recalls, gave him the foundation he needed to pursue independence and imagine a future beyond limitations.
In 2015, his life changed once more when he received his disability card through the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD). The card opened doors that had previously seemed closed. It allowed him to access further education and, later, secure employment. “It was not just a card,” he explains. “It was a key.”
After completing secondary school, Norris went on to earn a Diploma in Primary Education from Malcolm Moffat College of Education in Serenje, graduating in 2020. A year later, he was recruited as a teacher at Nadalisika Primary School under the Government’s 10 percent inclusive job placement programme.
“Getting that job changed everything,” he reflects. “I became independent and started giving back to my community.”
Norris’s vision extended beyond the classroom. In 2023, he registered a sole trader business and began bidding for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) contracts. Thanks to the reserved slots for people with disabilities, he secured a tender from Chadiza District Council to supply 200 school desks. Each desk was priced at K1,350 (£57), bringing the total to K270,000 (£11,700).
Despite delays in receiving the initial part payment of 25 percent, Norris pressed ahead. “I did not wait for the money to start working,” he says. “I wanted to prove that people with disabilities can deliver quality work on time.” His efficiency and commitment paid off, and the project was delivered ahead of schedule.
The success of his first contract provided him with financial security and reinforced his belief in the power of opportunity. In 2025, he achieved another milestone by winning a CDF contract worth K847,400 (£36,843) to build two classroom blocks and supply 40 desks.
“Now, I can stand on my own,” Norris affirms. “I want others with disabilities to know they can do the same.”
Balancing his responsibilities as both a teacher and entrepreneur, Norris continues to serve as an inspiration. His long-term ambition is to rise to the role of Permanent Secretary, where he hopes to influence policies that expand inclusion in education and business.
He credits much of his progress to the disability registration system supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and ZAPD. This framework has been strengthened through the Government of Zambia–United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection Phase II (GRZ-UNJPSP II). Since 2015, registration has grown from 5,000 to 130,000 in 2025.
The programme is implemented by the ILO, UNDP, WFP, and UNICEF, with financial support from Irish Aid, the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, UK Aid, and the Swedish Government. For Norris, the system has been life-changing, and for Zambia, it stands as proof of the transformative impact of inclusion.
His story is not only about breaking barriers but also about building pathways for others to follow. From a young student in Chipata to an entrepreneur handling million-kwacha projects, Norris embodies the possibility that comes when determination meets opportunity.
