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Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE BaTonga women in Binga District have turned a natural resource ilala (palm tree) with the help of Binga Craft Centre, into a treasured commodity through weaving beautiful products.
The craft centre which was established in 1989 by the Binga Rural District Council, is a community-based organisation which acts as a common marketplace for crafters within the region to showcase and sell their wares.
Binga Craft Centre Administration and Marketing Manager Mr Matabbeki Mudenda told Sunday News that crafters bring their wares to the centre for grading and approval, after which they leave them to the centre to sell on their behalf.
“As a craft centre, our mission is to economically empower women producing Tonga crafts through sustainable use of natural resources and we have done a lot to promote women’s craft in the Binga District. The centre has its own policy that says on all the products sold the centre should make a mark-up of 30 percent of the total product.
“That 30 percent is for administration and the transportation of their products to the centre,” he said.
Mr Mudenda said as a centre they also do quality control workshops where master weavers teach others to weave better.
“Before the end of December we will do 16 workshops. Ten workshops are funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) while six are funded by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe. 15 of the workshops are meant for quality control on basketry while one is meant for carving, as there is more demand in basketry weaving than in carving,” he said.
Mr Mudenda also expressed that fruits of these workshops have seen the centre managing to get international buyers in Spain and also uplifting the lives of women in Binga and their families.
He revealed that the women have been uplifted financially as they have generated more money for them to sustain themselves and their family.
Online Reporter