Midlands Correspondent
THE country’s biggest shoe manufacturer, Bata Shoe Company, has handed over five shoe stitching machines to Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre.

Sarah Bata, wife to Bata International chairman Thomas Bata, handed over the machines which were decommissioned from the company’s Gweru factory.

Bata has entered into a partnership with the vocational training centre where it is now part of the shoe manufacturer’s Associated Business Unit (ABUs).

The Gweru based shoe manufacturer introduced ABUs as part of its empowerment programmes and compliance with the country’s indigenisation laws, where it has subcontracted local enterprises to make shoes on its behalf.

Under the partnership arrangement Bata trained lecturers and students from Kaguvi at its Gweru factory as part of its quality control mechanisms.

A company spokesperson told Chronicle Business that the company subcontracted Kaguvi to make low cost sandals so that they can push volumes and ensure that the institution also realises some income.

He said: “What we want is to get the job done from them and they get some conversion charge and they earn. We trained the lecturers and the students and now we are now providing the machines and equipment What we want to see is for the students here to run their own businesses in future. So for this project we have developed a shoe line which is not expensive, so that we push the volumes so that we consistently get orders from them,” he added.

Kaguvi would be focusing on low priced articles ranging from $4,95 to $5, 95.

The equipment donated has a capacity to manufacture at least 3000 pair of shoes monthly.

Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre principal, Villie Makonye welcomed the partnership.

 

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