Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
Zimbabwe’s leather sector players have been called on to capitalise on their recently acquired Computer-Aided Design (CAD) skills to expand their businesses and produce products that can compete with the best in the world.
Ten lead designers from three Zimbabwe Leather Clusters (Bulawayo, Harare and Citywear) and the Leather Institute of Zimbabwe (LIZ) underwent a 10-day training on CAD to acquire skills to produce high-quality and standardised products.
These skills are critical to enhance productivity, improve design accuracy and foster innovation, while ensuring they reduce errors by eliminating manual drafting and enabling collaboration through shared digital platforms.
They were also awarded certificates of completion.
Effective CAD training empowers lead designers to oversee projects with greater precision and efficiency, from initial concept to final production.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Mr Paul Nyoni, in a speech read on his behalf by the director of economic development, Mr Simon Saunyama, at the official closing ceremony of the training on Wednesday, said they will use the acquired skills to build their future.
“The skills you have honed over the past days are not just certificates of completion; they are the tools with which you will build the future. They are the instruments that will allow you to innovate, to design products with greater precision and to compete with the best in the world,” he said.
“The conclusion of this training is not just the end of a course; it marks a significant milestone in our journey towards achieving the goals of our National Development Strategy 1. It is a tangible step towards realising the vision of President Mnangagwa for Zimbabwe to become an upper middle-income economy by 2030.”
He said the leather sector remained a key pillar of economic strategy and by equipping people with cutting-edge technological skills, the country was unlocking its vast potential for value addition and global competitiveness.
Mr Nyoni commended the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI)’s collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, to achieve a common purpose.
He said the partnership was the engine driving the revitalisation of the leather sector, while the strategic alliance between ALLPI and LIZ was key.
“This institution, enhanced by facilities like the Comesa-commissioned Design Studio, where you have spent your time learning, has demonstrated its capacity as a centre of excellence. It has successfully imparted modern, practical skills that are directly aligned with the needs of our industry.”
Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Bulawayo provincial development officer, Ms Glory Damba said as a ministry, their core mission was to build avenues for the economic empowerment of women, youth and our communities.
“This training programme has perfectly embodied the spirit of our mandate, bringing to light the extraordinary resilience and creativity that defines our nation’s leather sector.
“By mastering modern tools like CAD, you, our designers, have been handed the keys to greater efficiency, boundless creativity and expanded market access. This is the blueprint for turning a local hustle into a sustainable, profitable and globally competitive business,” she said.
She called on the lead designers to use the new skills to sharpen their business plans and formalise their enterprises.
ALLPI Regional Design Studio project manager Mr Preston Viswamo said the objective of the training was to develop the first-ever national school shoe and security forces ceremonial shoe and combat boot, which will be produced using lasts and soles from the new Harare-based investment.
“This initiative will equip leading designers with the skills to create high-quality, standardised homogeneity products, specifically for institutional buyers, thereby promoting economies of scale and joint market entry for Zimbabwe’s leather clusters,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe’s sector has strong growth prospects, particularly in regional and continental markets, but requires upgrading in design, innovation, quality standards and technology adoption.
While the enhanced skills in CAD and modern product development are essential to enable small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and clusters to improve productivity, create trend-responsive products and integrate into higher-value market segments.
