Online Reporter
Business Reporter
THE Mashava Arts Cluster in Masvingo is poised to increase sculpture exports to Europe following a successful buyer engagement facilitated by the national trade development and promotion agency, ZimTrade.
The latest development comes after a Netherlands-based arts and crafts buyer visited the Mashava Arts Cluster to assess products and finalise export arrangements ahead of a planned shipment next month.
Previously, the cluster exported only small volumes to the EU due to limited market access.
This move shows that efforts to integrate communities and small-scale producers into mainstream export markets are beginning to yield tangible results.
The engagement reflects growing momentum under ZimTrade’s Cluster Development Programme to empower rural communities and small producers through export-led industrial growth and direct access to international markets.
Mashava Arts Cluster brings together Mashava sculptors and artists specialising in stone carvings and artistic products that have gained increasing traction in international markets due to their uniqueness and craftsmanship.
During the visit, the buyer inspected products, engaged directly with sculptors and discussed key export requirements, including quality standards, sizing specifications and pricing structures required for the European market.
The exports are expected to significantly improve earnings for local artists, with the direct buyer-producer engagement eliminating intermediaries that previously absorbed a substantial share of export revenues.
The initiative also highlights growing efforts to formalise Zimbabwe’s arts and crafts value chain by connecting rural producers directly with international buyers and improving product competitiveness.
Speaking during the recent visit by Netherlands-based arts and crafts buyer Ms. Cornelia Martha, who lauded the uniqueness of Zimbabwean stone sculptures and the creativity of local artists, described the products as highly competitive on the international market.
“The stone is quite unique compared to other materials or other types of stone from other countries.
“This unique stone combined with the creativity of so many artists in Zimbabwe makes it an interesting product for trade to the Netherlands and in general, all over the world,” said Ms Martha.
Ms Martha noted that continued engagement between local artists and export markets has contributed to improved production standards over the years.
“The quality here is good; it took us quite some years to reach that level of quality. During the first years, the average quality was not as good as it is nowadays,” she said.
Her remarks come after ZimTrade last year facilitated specialised training programmes for sculptors under the cluster initiative, bringing in an expert from Germany-based Senior Expert Service (SES) to equip artists with skills in product finishing, international quality standards and online marketing techniques.
The interventions were designed to enhance the competitiveness of Zimbabwean sculptures on export markets while helping producers adapt to evolving consumer preferences and buyer expectations.
Ms Martha said quality remained a key determinant of market performance in Europe.
“When quality is good, which is shiny, with no wobbling, and in correct proportions, the sculptures perform well to very well on the Dutch market,” she said.
Zimbabwe’s arts and crafts sector continues to play a critical role in generating export earnings and supporting livelihoods, particularly in rural communities where artistic production has become a key source of income and employment.
Through the Cluster Development Programme, ZimTrade has been working with various producer groups across the country to strengthen production capacity, improve market access and facilitate direct engagement between local producers and international buyers.
The Mashava Arts Cluster is among a growing number of rural enterprises benefiting from the initiative, which is expected to contribute to inclusive economic development and broader participation of small producers in export markets.
Direct exposure to international buyers is also helping local artists to better understand global market trends and consumer preferences, positioning them to produce export-ready products that meet international standards and improve Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in the global arts and crafts trade.
