My names are William Mutale Chileshe, am a Zambian aged 37 married to Rabecca saka. Am a proud father of two daughters Lubuto and Shekinah, I was born in Ndola town the Copperbelt province in the year 1986 on the 31st of March. I have for siblings of which am the fourth. After completing the junior high school and obtained the certificate. Am someone with old enough to start holding responsibilities, I started working as a security guard under one company called pa-joy securities . That was in 2009, was only there for few months. In this company, the working conditions were very poor that transport was not provided, shifts as well were not allowed and I only worked for the night shifts without off duty given.

However this made me write the resignation letter as it became so difficult for me to continue working in the system though it became so hard for me to be committed to the work. In Zambia jobs are very hard to find, which was difficult for me to find a better job apart from been a security guard. Three months later I started a training under another security firm, called ARMCOR. In this company I was trained and deployed at a cement plant called LAFARGE cement. I worked with this company for 1 and half year.

Been a security officer was beneficial in my daily life. The first thing I learnt was safety punctuality and politeness. I was taught that being an officer, I have to be smart and punctual at the location, as this helped in good handling and taking over. I have to be polite, because am the one to have access control and the first person to communicate to everyone before allowing anyone to enter.

The other thing I was taught was military language called PHONETIC .up to now I still benefit from all this I learnt as a security officer. Today am punctual, polite and disciplined. Talking about LAFARGE cement plant, at that time I was there, this company was number one in Africa when we talked about safety every day, we used to have a pep talk, a player and a safety talk. In this company everyone was a safety officer and we made sure everyone was self-conscious up to now am still with the same safety minded I developed the days I worked as an officer under LAFARGE.

Because of being a hired security officer, I was obliged to be changed to avoid familiarity with the clients, so I was transferred to another company called Zambia breweries, this time as an officer in charge sure of decanting . Decanting is he process by which expired beverages are decanted (destroyed). I worked at Zambia breweries for a year. At Zambia breweries, safety was something the entire company knew a little but as an officer in charge of decanting, I knew it was my obligation to make sure no one takes any of those expired beverages. Because our health matters a lot.

The first thing I did when I finished inductions was to ask from the safety staffs about a breath rises. A breath riser is devise which detect if someone is drunk or not to make the story start, I was given the access to the breath riser, every time decanting is taking place, I made sure everyone breaths or takes part in breathing in it at the end of the process. I know this was my responsibility never to neglect my duty and to protect the health of the decanters I made sure no one consumes any of these expired beverages at the end of six months, I came to my notice that I was a very responsible officer. His was because, I was strictly watching the decanters doing their job perfectly. By the state of 2011, a friend of mine approached me, telling that heir is a vacancy of tire fitting job at a company called TIGER transport, because I was only a security officer without any job qualifications, I didn’t take it seriously but I was emphasis to apply because I will be on job training . I liked it because I wanted to learn another skill. Days later I was called for interviews of which I was given two days for preparations, so I used those days to lender my resignation at ARMCOR office. This was the end of my chapter as a security officer.

Though it was a quick resignation, I managed to say good bye to my friends. It was a good journey of two and helps years as a security officer. Because I learnt a lot in this field.

1.I learnt to be responsible both at home and at work.

2.I learnt to be punctual in everything and to be obedient and loyal.

3.Learnt to be polite to both young and old alike.

4.I learnt to be disciplined financially and at work.

5.I learnt to be tactical and smart in everything concerning guarding.

At his company I left with a clean record and I was advised by supervisors to rejoin them whenever am out of employment, this was because I was a trained officer and I could speak military language very well called PHONETIC. Helped the company expand from 100 officer when we started, to 280 officer in the space of 2 years. I can boast that I worked honorably with ARMCOR securities

Because of working in ARMCOR and learning all those things I have stated above, whenever I go, people admires me. Because I create a good working condition with my co-workers. Am never late for work and very serious with work and unnecessary permission, that don’t occur in my circle of work.

EXPECTIONS

I was preparing myself for the incoming job in the Zambia Army but during those of my two help years I spent working in ARMCOR but the required number for Zambia Army was small

In the year 2011 I started working for TIGER transport as a tire fitter trainer. It took me only two weeks to learn everything. I could fit tires and with a month I could make tires and everything on the tire, I could also differentiate tires just by looking at them. I call this as life revolution because I was learning new skills. Working with tires needs someone who is sober minded, responsible person. I can say I was equal to that job, because as a tire man it was my responsibility to make sure all tires were in perfect condition. Tires plays a huge row in vehicles and as tire was in perfect for the vehicle which is on the load. This was huge responsibility which needed 2or 3 people, but the time I approached the managed about the additional man power.

In my department, the answer was shocking. I was informed that I was equal to the task and the company was not complaining about me working alone. His boosted me to the extent reporting for work earlier than everyone, knocking off late and also started working in some weekends. Transport how I was I go my tire fitting skill, I was strong man because all the work I did at TIGER transport except pumping using a compressor. I was with TIGER for two years but at the end of two years the company started limping or struggling financially at this time I was admiring the Company.

During my 2 year I worked for TIGER transport, I face a lot of problems more especially when there was a wheat order the load to the farms producing wheat was in deplorable state and if I say maybe 8 truck as that order, it is just two trips all the truck should be in the company with various problem including tires.

1.So being the only one in charge of tires

2.I have to report for work 2 hours before every one could report.

3.I have to knock again 2 hours late after all the workers as knock off

4.I have to cancel all my weekend programs to make sure I fix all the trucks with tire problem.

ENROLLED AT THE SCHOOL OF METAL FABRICATION (MUSHILI SKILL TRAINING CENTRE)

After studying metal fabrication, I sat for final exams in the month of December 2014. I did very well in both subjects I studied. so this is how my welding career began, in 2015 I worked with skyline welding techniques, here I acquired some experience so by the start of 2016, I decided to go for medicals at Zambia silicosis medicals, after the test, I was declared fit . This is how I decided to switch from Ndola to Kitwe Mining Township. I was in Kitwe for only 3 months when I secured a job at Blackrock mining company. His company was buying raw materials copper, so being the welder, I was also in charge of fixing crushers being responsible for tire section from my previous company, and this was never a big deal. I could adjust the crusher into breaking any size of stones. Also making sure that I weld were welding is needed. At first I could face fitter challenges but as time goes on, the demand for copper became high and the company increased copper prices. As a company, we started having more customers as a result, my responsibility grow because I had to weld and crusher pix. If to fix crusher or if to world and knocking off late by the end of the 2016, my boss parted way to go with Mr. Steven Zhang and Mr.and Mr. hoa zhang, they formed a company called Santorin mining limited in 2017, I call this time my turning I got married to Rabecca Saka .

As I continued working I became more and more responsible, in 2018 I welcomed my first daughter Lubuto was years later another baby girl was born by the name of shekinah in 2019 the owners of the company decided to expand the company, they started buying materials for the contractors, this did not take long, one of engineer from china arrived by the name of Mr. dong I became his assistant and together, we started building and welding the contractor sections, this time my service was needed than ever, I reported at 06:00hours and knocked off at 7:00 ppm, here I even learnt gas cutting working with mr. dong was highly beneficial .

1.I learnt how to handle gas and also cutting

2.I learnt house keeping

3.I also learnt how to weld using low edge welding rods.

At this time, I stopped clubbing so to have good connection with my family. This was because my job took almost all my time, so the little time I remained with, I spent it with my wife and daughter and the good part was my wife understands the situation I was in.

As a responsible family man who also had a work, demand, this helped to stay close to work and family. The time Mr. Dong s contract expired I remained in charge of the contract department as well as the only welder at Santorin mining company in 2022 October to be precise he government of the republic of Zambia found the company of obligating the law of Zambia by not paying proper tax, in December that same year, the company was closed for good because the Santorin mining failed to pay them a penalty of k28, 000,000 of Zambian kwacha, which was equivalent to almost 18,000 us dollars

During all this time I upgraded my driver’s license to P.S.V the following year I started working as a co-driver under jambo milling in Ndola, jambo milling is a company which manufacture mealie meal (countries staple food) I was a co-driver just for a short time of 3 months. whilst on duty as a co-driver, my former boss Mr. steven zhang called me back I went back to the company, this time we started dismantling the contract and un 10 days we completely dismantled and I was paid my dues . Being a co-driver was also something I enjoyed but the other challenge I faced was being away from my family, but difficult because I could go maybe for days without seeing my family. But again I developed another plan of using video call. Through this, I was able to stay connected to my little daughter and my wife. Being away from my family, they were too lonely, so I took my brothers daughter to stay with us and to keep company my wife. whilst on duty as a co-driver, I received unknown call that a certain company in Ndola want to employ a welder,after one day I rushed to the said company which is called Himilo transport I did the welding rests and I was employed on temporally basis . This was a transportation company with 28 trucks. This can be called another chapter in my welding career, because I faced a different system compared to the one at Santorin mining in Kitwe, here I could weld and repair trailers making king plate or picker plate replacing them to the finished ones. I could weld trailers cross members are well assist on making suspension. This is a system which holds tires. There hungers, the spring excites the sitters and the control harms. So these are some of the things I learnt at Hamilo transport. As time goes on, I started thinking of working for myself. The kind of knowledge I acquired during my seven years of working as a welder gave me the courage of starting my own workshop.

I could not go on with my plans as the country started experiencing load shading. this was a major reasons why I found my as a co-driver as slowdown with my plan of starting working in my workshop as you can understand being a welder one must depend on power and according with standing money I had, it failed to by a power generator .

My dream is to equip myself with as many skills as possible. So between the years 2014, I did a short excavator course which I passed, but in this field, I have no experience because due to limited time I had and with my commitment as a weld mostly at Santorin mining I couldn’t go to look for another job as an excavator operator.

I can say am a qualified welder because am seven years old in this field, but the reason I applied as welder assistant was of advanced technology that side, I don’t know advanced welding that side but my country Zambia, most of the items we use are china made, so I believe there are some differences, I thought I have to undergo some training.

I can say I am a qualified welder, but the reason why am I applied as a welder is because, the kind of technology and our technology in Africa are quite different, so I had to put myself low so that I have your time to learn your welding machines and gas cutting and welding that side.

I have learnt so many, this both as a security guard and has a welder but what matters most is humbleness, humility royal and working hard.

In my conclusion I can say,metal fabrication or welding, is something I love doing and something I do best, when duty calls, I can only be reminded that its launch hour, or its time to knock off as a result of loving this job . Thank you for your time.

My best regards to you.

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