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Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
PENETRATING a male-dominated industry is no mean achievement and Sithabile Mlilo has every reason to be proud.
After working in the leather sector for a decade, Mlilo was not content with being an employee and sought to establish her own business.
Despite the challenges facing the leather sector in the country, determination kept her focused on her dream.
August 2015 marked a turning point in her life when she ultimately established her company, “Leather by Stha”.
The company supplies components such as glue, rivets, shoelaces and threads to different established companies in the leather industry in Bulawayo.
“Being a woman and doing something in the leather sector is a big achievement and coming from an office background made it all the more difficult,” she told Business Chronicle.
“Men in the industry have worked at big manufacturing companies and often they didn’t really think I had anything to offer them.”
Mlilo said she owes her breakthrough to her former boss, Cornelio Sunduza, who is the executive chairman of the Leather Institute of
Zimbabwe, who gave her the opportunity to work with COMESA Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI) under the AVAL project.
She said her involvement in this project opened her horizons and made her realise her untapped potential.
Mlilo, 34, is one of the few female entrepreneurs who facilitated the formation of the Bulawayo Leather Cluster.
“I was one of the people who travelled to the cluster management excellency training conducted by the COMESA Leather and LLPI in
May 2013 in Siavonga, Zambia. I also worked with Alvo Shoe Manufacturers between 2005 to 2007 as well as the International Trade Commission,” she said.
Mlilo said it was not an easy task to convince the market to accept her services as many believed she didn’t have the expertise.
“I believed I had vast experience in the leather sector having worked for the Leather Institute of Zimbabwe for more than 10 years hence I decided to start my own company so that I could share my skills and knowledge with others in the industry,”she said.
The youthful entrepreneur is a holder of a National certificate in Computer Studies and a Certificate in Personnel Management. She is studying towards a degree in entrepreneurship.
“At some point in one of my classes at university, one of our lecturers asked us to make samples for our potential companies.
“I made a lovely pair of sandals and a bag from camouflage leather. My lecturer refused to give them back because both items are unique and I take that as proof that I’m good at what I do,” she said with a smile.
Mlilo said she was inspired by her mother and is grateful to the support she gets from her family. Her dream is to become one of the leading leather accessories suppliers in the country.
“My wish is to penetrate the few remaining bigger companies and be able to compete with them. I want to see my company grow in the next five years. Meanwhile, I want to add leather belts for females to my range of products,” she said.
Mlilo’s advice to other entrepreneurs is that they should follow their dreams passionately and refuse to settle for second best.
“There are only a few women in the industry and I urge women out there to come and join the industry. Chase after your dreams with relentless passion and don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way,” she said.
derick.khumalo