At the 2025 Manufacturers Month Gala Dinner in Lusaka, Ruth Ironside, Founder and Chief Executive of Mupapa Wood Limited, was named recipient of the Woman in Industry Award, a recognition that underscores both her personal drive and the broader momentum of women entrepreneurs shaping Africa’s industrial landscape.
Ironside, who established Mupapa Wood in 2018, has steadily built the company into one of Zambia’s leading family-run wood manufacturers. Specialising in premium hardwoods such as teak, rosewood and mukwa, the firm is known for blending traditional carpentry with contemporary design. Many of its products are custom-made, reflecting a strategy that positions craftsmanship not just as utility but as artistry.
“Thank you to my Mupapa Wood team, partners, and clients for believing in my dream and making it a reality,” Ironside said after receiving the award. “Here is to the next year of women in manufacturing.”
Mupapa Wood’s latest move marks a significant turning point. With support from the Muchinga Province Administration and Zambia’s Department of Forests, the company is in the process of acquiring its own forest concessions. Securing direct access to raw materials promises to streamline production, reduce costs and reinforce quality control in a sector where dependence on third-party suppliers has long been a constraint.
Zambia’s timber market is gaining visibility as global demand for sustainably sourced hardwood rises. By localising production and scaling responsibly, Mupapa Wood is positioning itself not just as a business, but as part of the regional value chain driving jobs, exports and skills development.
Ruth Ironside’s recognition comes at a time when Zambia, like many African nations, is working to diversify its economy away from heavy reliance on mining. Manufacturing, particularly in areas such as furniture, carpentry and light industry is seen as an essential pillar for long-term growth. For women-led enterprises the opportunities are immense but access to finance, resources and markets remains uneven.
Mupapa Wood’s trajectory suggests that persistence, coupled with institutional backing can change this narrative. By turning a family venture into a scalable business, Ruth embodies a new generation of African entrepreneurs reshaping industries once dominated by foreign suppliers.
