Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
Zimbabwe’s leather sector players have been told to embrace modern technologies to produce products of high quality that can compete on a global scale.
Officially opening the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Training for Lead Designers in the Zimbabwe Leather Clusters at the Leather Institute of Zimbabwe on Thursday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube said the leather sector was a low-hanging fruit with immense potential.
“This training programme is not merely a workshop; it is a critical step towards realising the goals of our National Development Strategy 1 and 2, fulfilling the vision of President Mnangagwa for Zimbabwe to be an Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030.
“The leather sector is a low-hanging fruit with immense potential for value addition, import substitution and export growth. By embracing technologies like Computer-Aided Design, we are equipping our designers to compete on a global scale, producing goods that are not only of high quality but also innovative and precisely engineered,” she said.
She called on the 10 participants from different parts of the country, talented designers and entrepreneurs, to be the engine of transformation in the leather sector, as the training was an investment in them and by extension, an investment in the future of Zimbabwe.
Minister Ncube commended LIZ for being a cornerstone of the region’s industrial heritage and future, as well as the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) for its unwavering commitment to reviving and modernising the leather sector, not just in Zimbabwe, but across the continent.
“Your work, in close collaboration with our own Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, is a shining example of the synergy required to drive sustainable economic growth.
“This collaboration ensures that our development is inclusive, empowering the very heart of our economy, our small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the strategic partnership between ALLPI and LIZ is commendable.
‘‘It has transformed this institution into a hub of innovation and practical skills development, directly serving the needs of our industry players,” she added.
In a speech read on his behalf by Regional Design Studio project manager, Mr Preston Viswamo, ALLPI executive director, Mr Nicholas Mudungwe, said the event marked a significant milestone in their collective journey to modernise and transform the leather sector, not only in Zimbabwe but across the entire COMESA region.
“We are gathered here at LIZ, in this very Design Studio that was recently commissioned with the support of Comesa. Seeing it being utilised for its intended purpose to build capacity and foster innovation is a testament to the power of vision and collaboration,” he said.
He called on the participants to use the skills they acquired to innovate, improve the quality of products and create designs that can captivate both local and international markets.
Mr Mudungwe said this would allow them to grow their businesses, create employment and contribute to the proud legacy of “Made in Zimbabwe” leather products.
Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, provincial development officer, Ms Glory Damba, represented by Mrs Dominica Muringi, said the leather sector was a space where people, especially women, have shown incredible resilience and creativity.
“This training programme speaks directly to the heart of our mandate. We see this not just as a technical skills workshop; we see it as an empowerment programme. By equipping our designers with modern tools like Computer-Aided Design (CAD), you are giving them the power to increase their efficiency, reducing material waste and saving precious capital,” she said.
“You unlock their creativity, turning their unique ideas into market-ready products and they have access to new markets, moving from the local curio stall to the regional boutique and beyond.”
