Leather and textile industry urged to embrace quality standards certification

THE Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has urged stakeholders in the leather and textile industry to embrace and implement quality standards certification to increase market access and competitiveness in light of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The leather and textile sectors are some of the 10 priority value chains to be unlocked under the National Development Strategy (NDS1).

These are regarded as low-hanging fruits for the country to improve and grow its industries.

By prioritising standards in the sector, players, who include small and medium enterprises can be able to easily penetrate both local, regional and international markets.

Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ)

Speaking at the sensitisation workshop hosted by the SAZ in collaboration with the leather and textile sector in Bulawayo yesterday, SAZ director-general Mr Cosmas Mukoyi said capacitating local producers on the production of quality standards was critical as it contributes to the attainment of Vision 2030.

He said producers must always ensure that they meet the relevant quality standards, which will reduce chances of rejection by different markets.

“In Africa, we have more than US$$900 million worth of products that have been rejected outside the continent.

“We have to capacitate our people with knowledge on issues of quality standards,” said Mr Mukoyi.

He called upon the Government to introduce a policy framework that will allow local companies in all sectors to abide by the required standards so that consumers are not shortchanged by buying poor products.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zimbabwe Leather Development Council (ZLDC) secretary, Mr Jacob Nyathi said players in the leather sector must maintain high-quality standards to enable them to penetrate the AfCFTA market.

He said the leather sector can compete favourably once high standards are maintained.

“We have the cattle to produce the hides we need and the challenge is to ensure were produce high-quality products,” said Mr Nyathi.

He, however, said micro-small to medium enterprises (MSMEs) face a huge challenge due to influx of cheap products coming from outside the country.

Mr Nyathi said some of these products are of inferior quality, which tends to harm the local leather industry.

Founder and the owner of Farrington Investments trading as Soko Genuine Leather, Ms Violet Mhute, who was part of the attendees expressed gratitude saying SAZ had opened her eyes in the context of the AfCFTA market.

“We got enlightened on what the AfCFTA market expects in terms of the quality of the products we produce,” said Mhute.

The event was attended by players in the leather and textile sector, which includes farmers, abattoirs, tanneries, manufactures and small to medium enterprises, among others.

Government representatives from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development also attended.-chroncile