Celebrating Zambian Excellence
Trailblazer Ruth Chande Ironside Wins 2025 Women in Industry Award for Innovation, Empowerment, and Sustainability By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 – (19-09-2025) – Ruth Chande Ironside, founder and CEO of Mupapa Wood Initiative, has been recognized at the 2025 Manufacturers Month Women in Industry Awards for her outstanding contributions to Zambia’s furniture manufacturing sector and environmental conservation. Ironside expressed her pride in her craft, saying, “It’s rewarding to see simple wood transformed into beautiful furniture and know it’s Zambian and created by a woman. My journey shows that with dedication, anyone can achieve their goals.” Highlighting her role as both an employer and mentor, she added, “Training young men and women in furniture-making is one of the most fulfilling parts of my work. My team, my family, and especially my husband have been instrumental in this success.” Reflecting on the challenges she has faced, Ironside said, “Achieving this does ...