Chronicle Editor
Tendai Rupapa in Gweru
ONE of Zimbabwe’s oldest shoe manufacturing companies, Bata, yesterday donated to First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation a consignment of school shoes for onward distribution to the needy in all parts of the country.
Amai Mnangagwa also toured the company’s giant factory in Gweru to have an appreciation and understanding of how it manufactures shoes.
Bata expressed eagerness to partner the First Lady in her empowerment and philanthropic work, led the mother of the nation to Sarah Bata Senior School where she watered a Kenya Croton tree planted by President Mnangagwa in 2015 when he was still Vice-President.
The First Lady planted the Syzygium cordatum tree (Muhute) at the site.
Bata country manager Mr Simon Mutisya said it was a great honour to host Her Excellency the First Lady and described the visit and the donation as a good gesture.
The First Lady is passionate about the education of all Zimbabweans and, through her Angel of Hope Foundation, has been at the forefront of eliminating challenges that previously made children miss school like lack of school fees, lack of school uniforms, sanitary wear and other sundries.
She has personally sewn uniforms for children in disadvantaged communities and even started a school feeding programme for them.
Therefore, the donation of school shoes by Bata will go a long way in assisting the mother of the nation in her programmes.
“As part of our programme of improving lives which is at the centre of our values, we have donated some footwear which will go to the charity work that is being undertaken by Her Excellency the First Lady.
This is in line with our values and also the section that has been set aside by the organisation under the BCP programme which is Bata Children’s Programme.
We felt honoured to participate and also give our contribution in kind. The First Lady will hand over the shoes to Angel of Hope beneficiaries,” he said.
Mr Mutisya said his firm was touched by the work the First Lady was doing across the country.
“We have seen Her Excellency Dr A Mnangagwa doing philanthropic work across the country and we felt as an organisation that we should support her in the charity work which is also in line with our values and we hope to partner with her going forward,” he said.
In her acceptance speech, the First Lady praised the giant shoe manufacturer for being resilient and ability to remain focused on business even in challenging times.
She chronicled the rich history of Bata in Zimbabwe and how she, like many other Zimbabweans, grew up wearing shoes manufactured by Bata.
“Let me start by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to be among you here seeing what Bata is doing and have an appreciation of your operations in shoe manufacturing.
Allow me to say that because of the good reputation, Bata gained popularity in Zimbabwe to an extent that it earned itself a family name in every household.
When I was growing up, we all used to go to Bata to buy shoes for school. Almost everyone would rush to Bata shops.
Today, Bata is still standing and to me this is very important to visit here and get the history of how it started and where it is going.
“Let me hasten to say that we grew up wearing Bata shoes coming in all colours, types and in different forms. To date most Zimbabweans, if not all, know that if you want the whole family to wear shoes of any type, of any colour, from patapata to executive shoes you think of Bata.
When I was taking my children to school I used to go to Bata which is in Leopold Takawira Street in Harare. There used to be a rush such that if you didn’t go in the morning, you would find the shop full to capacity and won’t be able to make your children try the shoes in the shop.
That is how popular Bata was and still is. At Bata you get all the sizes, you find all the colours, the type, the price itself is welcoming and the service that you get from the staff there is heart-warming,” she said.
Bata Shoe Company, the First Lady said, had shown the power of faith and she wished the firm a brighter and more innovative future in its operations and endeavours.
“I also say you have worked so tirelessly and maintained that Bata name. It should not die.
If all companies could emulate, see and follow what Bata has done since it started in Zimbabwe as I heard that you started in Bulawayo and now you are in Midlands. That resilience is very important that when you are shaken you don’t move you remain there. That’s why today I am here.
If you were shaken and moved, we were not going to be here like a family today. Trying times are there but they should find you in a position ready to fight those tying times. That’s what we are saying today; we are here because you have overpowered and remained because you are focused.”
The First Lady said despite the debilitating effects of Covid-19 and other ailments, Bata had remained committed to business up to this day.
“Allow me to acknowledge your recognition of my philanthropic work that made you give me this donation.
I sincerely thank you for this precious gift and appreciation. The gift will cater for the entire Angel of Hope Foundation family countrywide,” she said.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Senator Larry Mavima told guests at the tour that about 95 percent of his shoes were from Bata.
“We have arranged this tour Amai so that you can see what one of the oldest shoe manufacturing companies in Zimbabwe is doing in terms of production, empowerment and exports. With those few words I want to welcome you to Bata,” he said.
Bata started its operations in 1894 and has covered several milestones from then to date, resulting in it operating in over 70 countries with 22 manufacturing plants.
The giant shoe-manufacturing firm operates 5 800 shops across the globe and employs 35 000 people.
The company sells about 180 million pairs of shoes per year globally.
In Zimbabwe, the firm was established in 1931 in Bulawayo before moving to the Midlands in 1937.
jokingly, Mr Mutisya said: “I am proud to say that out of all the shoes that you see in our stores, we have 64 stores, 95 percent of those shoes are produced here in Gweru. This means out of 10 pairs, nine-and-a-half pairs are produced here.
The other balance we import, basically because of technological gaps. We import from our sister companies where it’s not prudent to invest, especially the ladies’ styles which change within three months.”
At Sarah Bata Senior school, the authorities engaged the First Lady and said they would be happy if she could bring her Nhanga/ Gota/ Ixhiba educative programme for the benefit of their learners
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter