Zimbabwe’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Nqobizotha Mangaliso Ndhlovu called for a shift from exporting raw hides to producing and exporting high quality finished leather goods during a stakeholders’ workshop by ALLPI in Bulawayo on Thursday, 16 April 2026.

The Minister said the Zimbabwe leather industry is seeing a revival under the Zimbabwe Leather Sector Strategy 2021 to 2030, focused on investment, value addition and export led growth. He added that Zimbabwe has a strong livestock base that can support a competitive leather sector.

He also pointed out that exporting raw and semi-processed hides and skins is limiting value addition, jobs and industrial growth. He also pointed out key issues such as poor raw material quality, lack of finance, outdated technology, skills gaps and weak coordination.

Ndhlovu said the government aims to build modern and sustainable production facilities and improve links with livestock farmers to raise hide quality. He also stressed the need to support SMEs through shared facilities, skill development, better branding and improved market access.

An estimated 2.5 million rural based families stand to benefit directly from the sale of hides, leather and leather products.

Minister Ndhlovu commended the Mutapa Investment Fund for efforts to revive the Cold Storage Commission (CSC) with an injection of $56.3 million. He also highlighted support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) through a 3 year pilot project in Matabeleland North and Bulawayo Provinces.

The 2 day workshop is being held under the theme “Strengthening Collaboration to Address Systemic Bottlenecks and Unlock Inclusive Growth in the Leather Value Chain” and is organised by the African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI).

Source: heraldonline