Chemical Society of Zambia

Chemical Society of Zambia We are dedicated to advancing the chemical sciences.

The Chemical Society of Zambia (CSZ) is the national professional body that embraces all chemical scientists — chemists, analysts, laboratory professionals, educators, researchers, and students.

WHAT VALUE ARE GRADUATES ADDING TO ZAMBIA'S DEVELOPMENT?Every year, Zambia produces thousands of university graduates ac...
12/08/2026

WHAT VALUE ARE GRADUATES ADDING TO ZAMBIA'S DEVELOPMENT?

Every year, Zambia produces thousands of university graduates across chemistry, engineering, agriculture, medicine, technology, business and other disciplines.

But beyond obtaining a qualification and finding employment, an uncomfortable question remains:

What measurable value are our graduates adding to the development of Zambia?

Are graduates creating businesses, developing products, improving industrial processes, conducting relevant research, creating jobs, solving community problems and contributing to innovation?

Or has the system trained us primarily to look for jobs rather than create solutions?

For a chemistry graduate, value could mean developing a locally produced chemical product, improving a mining process, creating a water-testing service, transforming agricultural waste into useful materials, developing safer manufacturing processes or commercialising university research.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

Perhaps the issue isn't simply whether graduates are employed.

Perhaps we should also ask:

What are graduates producing, creating, improving or solving?

And equally:

Is Zambia creating enough opportunities for graduates to turn their knowledge into economic and social value?

CSZ DISCUSSION

What value are you adding to Zambia's development with the knowledge you have acquired?

Are our graduates being prepared to become employees, entrepreneurs, innovators—or all three?

CSZ – THE CATALYST | OPEN DISCUSSION

Why aren't more African medicinal plants becoming modern drugs?Across Zambia and Africa, traditional medicine has relied...
11/08/2026

Why aren't more African medicinal plants becoming modern drugs?

Across Zambia and Africa, traditional medicine has relied on roots, leaves, bark, seeds and other plant materials for generations.

But modern chemistry asks a different question:

What molecules are actually responsible for the biological activity?

A plant may contain alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins and other secondary metabolites. Some of these compounds can interact with biological targets and potentially become starting points for drug discovery.

This isn't just theoretical.

The history of medicine contains successful examples of drugs originating from natural products. WHO notes that natural products have contributed to major medicines, including artemisinin, while other famous examples include compounds derived from plants such as the rosy periwinkle and wild yam.

SO WHAT ABOUT ZAMBIA?

A 2024 review by researchers from Copperbelt University, University of Zambia and other Zambian institutions examined selected indigenous Zambian medicinal plants and found evidence of potentially useful biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects.

But the same review highlights the problem:

Many indigenous Zambian medicinal plants have yet to be adequately profiled and scientifically investigated.

Research in Chipulukusu, Ndola, has also documented medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes, demonstrating that valuable ethnobotanical knowledge exists within Zambian communities.

Read full article in the comment section

ARE WE RESEARCHING PROBLEMS PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE?Every year, universities produce research papers, dissertations, projec...
10/08/2026

ARE WE RESEARCHING PROBLEMS PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE?

Every year, universities produce research papers, dissertations, projects and scientific publications.
But here is the uncomfortable question:
How many of these studies actually solve a problem someone in Zambia is facing?
We research water quality, agriculture, mining, waste, food safety, energy, health and the environment.
Yet research can sometimes remain on paper, disconnected from the communities, industries and institutions that could benefit from it.
THE REAL QUESTION
Should we begin research by asking:
“What can we study?”
Or:
“What problem needs to be solved?”
For a chemistry student, this could mean developing a cheaper method for testing contaminated water, finding value in agricultural waste, improving food preservation, recovering metals from mining waste, or developing locally produced materials.
The goal isn't to stop doing fundamental research. Discovery matters.
But when public resources, student time and scientific expertise are invested into research, we should also ask:
Who needs this knowledge—and what happens after the research is published?

CSZ DISCUSSION
Are our universities researching the problems Zambia actually has, or are we researching what is easiest to publish?

YOU HAVE A CHEMISTRY DEGREE. NOW WHAT?A degree gives you knowledge.But what can you build with that knowledge?Chemistry ...
10/08/2026

YOU HAVE A CHEMISTRY DEGREE. NOW WHAT?

A degree gives you knowledge.
But what can you build with that knowledge?
Chemistry is not limited to the laboratory, classroom or mining industry. The skills you develop can be applied to manufacturing, food processing, water treatment, cosmetics, agriculture, environmental services, pharmaceuticals, materials, quality control and chemical production.

The bigger question is:
How can a chemist turn scientific knowledge into a business?

Could you develop a locally produced cleaning product?
Build a water-testing service?
Process an indigenous fruit into a commercial product?
Develop agricultural inputs?
Start a laboratory or analytical service?
Create value from industrial or agricultural waste?

And perhaps most importantly:
Are we being trained only to look for jobs—or to create solutions that people are willing to pay for?
Starting a science-based business isn't easy. It requires capital, regulation, equipment, market research, technical expertise and business skills.
But chemistry gives you something valuable:
The ability to understand matter, solve problems and transform raw materials into useful products.

THE CSZ QUESTION
You have your chemistry degree. What are you going to build with it?
Tell us your idea....

Our Heritage, Our Chemistry
09/08/2026

Our Heritage, Our Chemistry

09/08/2026

The catalyst ......

AMASUKU: CAN CHEMISTRY TURN A TRADITIONAL FRUIT INTO AN INDUSTRY?Known locally as amasuku/masuku, Uapaca kirkiana is an ...
09/08/2026

AMASUKU: CAN CHEMISTRY TURN A TRADITIONAL FRUIT INTO AN INDUSTRY?
Known locally as amasuku/masuku, Uapaca kirkiana is an indigenous fruit found in parts of Zambia and other countries in southern Africa.
It is usually eaten fresh, but research shows that the fruit has potential far beyond the traditional way we consume it. Studies have investigated its sugars, starch, minerals, vitamin C and other bioactive compounds.

SO WHAT CAN CHEMISTS DO WITH IT?
This is where things become interesting.
1. Functional beverages
The fruit can be processed into juice, squash and other beverages. Research has already demonstrated that U. kirkiana can be used to produce acceptable juices.

Chemists could optimise:
pH → acidity → sugar concentration → colour → shelf life → microbial stability
2. Natural food ingredients
Research has identified bioactive compounds in the fruit, making it interesting for investigation as a source of natural antioxidants and functional food ingredients.

This could potentially lead to research into:
Natural antioxidant extracts
Food preservatives
Functional beverages
Nutraceutical ingredients
However, these are research opportunities, not established medical products.
3. Jam, syrup and spreads
Interestingly, research on Zambian consumers found jam, butter and syrup among the most desired processed Uapaca kirkiana products.

That means the chemistry isn't just theoretical—it could directly connect to food processing and entrepreneurship.
4. Fermentation
Uapaca kirkiana has traditionally been used to produce alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and research has explored its potential for fermentation.

The natural sugars in the fruit can provide a substrate for microorganisms.
Fruit sugars → microbial fermentation → organic acids / ethanol / flavour compounds
That opens opportunities for studying food microbiology, fermentation chemistry and process optimisation.

CAN PEANUTS BECOME POISONOUS?Groundnuts are nutritious, but under certain conditions they can become contaminated with a...
08/08/2026

CAN PEANUTS BECOME POISONOUS?

Groundnuts are nutritious, but under certain conditions they can become contaminated with aflatoxins — toxic compounds produced by moulds such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

THE CHEMISTRY

Poor drying, warm conditions, moisture and improper storage can encourage mould growth and aflatoxin production. One of the most important compounds is Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁).

After ingestion, AFB₁ is metabolised in the liver into reactive compounds capable of damaging DNA. Long-term exposure is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer.

WHAT ABOUT ZAMBIA?

This is not merely a theoretical concern. A study of groundnut products from Zambian markets found substantial AFB₁ contamination, with some samples recording very high concentrations.

More recently, researchers at the University of Zambia and collaborating institutions assessed the risk of AFB₁ exposure through peanut consumption among children aged 6–59 months in Lusaka.

THE SURPRISING PART

Aflatoxin contamination cannot always be detected by appearance alone. Mould toxins can pe*****te food, and many mycotoxins are chemically stable during processing.

REDUCING THE RISK

Proper drying, storage and handling are critical. Damaged, mouldy, discoloured or shrivelled groundnuts should be discarded.

CSZ SCIENCE QUESTION

> If a groundnut looks perfectly normal, can you know whether it is chemically safe?

Food Chemistry | Mycotoxins | Public Health | Zambia

CSZ – THE CATALYST | Publications

Address

P O Box 20413
Kitwe
10101

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chemical Society of Zambia posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category