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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’S biggest shoe manufacturer, Bata Shoe Company, is set to refurbish three of its retail outlets in Kwekwe, Masvingo and Zvishavane in conformity with best international standards.
The modernisation of the Gweru-based shoe company’s branches started in 2012 with the refurbishment of its Leopold Takawira outlet in Harare followed by seven others.
Ronjoy Sengupta, Bata managing director said in the medium term 10 more stores will get a facelift after the completion of the three branches earmarked for modernisation.
“We’ve renovated 10 stores and we’re in the process of modernising three more namely Kwekwe, Masvingo and Zvishavane this year. Going forward we’ve at least 10 stores, which have been earmarked for renovation in the next three years,” he said.
Sengupta could not be drawn to divulge the cost of the exercise.
The company is currently operating at 70 percent capacity and is slowly regaining its lost market share, which it relinquished at the height of economic challenges.
This has seen the company purchasing new shoe manufacturing equipment and opening its Kwekwe based rubber sole manufacturing subsidiary, Jit, as its seeks to ramp up production to optimum levels.
Bata has also made inroads in complying with the country’s empowerment laws, which involve local procurement and outsourcing arrangements favouring indigenous Zimbabweans.
“As Bata shoe organisation worldwide we’ve been operating in many countries where we’ve been faced with challenges. Zimbabwe has also been facing challenges hence we’ve the answer and the knowhow of how to empower people,” said Sengupta.
“I’m happy we’ve received support from the government and going forward we want to ensure that 99 percent of Bata management is Zimbabwean.”
Online Reporter