Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The negative socio-economic impact of COVID-19 has not spared the leather industry in Zambia,

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The negative socio-economic impact of COVID-19 has not spared the leather industry in Zambia, says Zamleather General Manager Richard Franklin.

He said the industry is feeling the pinch of this pandemic as it has disrupted the way business is done.

Mr Franklin noted that the leather and shoe business heavily relies on movement of people, but COVID-19 has confined people indoors.

“Our industry is generally supported by people moving from point A to B. The more people move, the higher the need for new shoes. However, the virus has confined people to their homes, for quite some time, before the new normal. This, in turn, affects sales due to low demand,” he explained.

Mr Franklin cited Kaleza, a football boot produced by Zamleather, as one of the footwears that had been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, while the suspension of school classes had impacted sales of its famous Zamshu school shoes.

“We significantly reduced production, or supply, of the famous boot for champions – Kaleza boot – on the market after we noticed a reduction in demand for the boot. This followed the closure of the football season by government in March this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Mr Franklin was, however, optimistic that the company would increase production of the boot for champions as the football season in Zambia was expected to resume this month under the new normal.

The Zamleather general manager noted that the Zambeef tannery and shoe division managed to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic by adhering to preventive measures set by government and heath institutions such as the World health Organisation.

“We are living in the new normal at our factory. All our staff are masked up, they wash hands frequently, and when you visit our factory, you’ll surely have your hands sanitised right at the entrance as well as your temperature taken. We have taken the fight against this disease very seriously” he said.

Mr Franklin observed that COVID-19 did not severely impact on the company’s safety shoe collection.

“Although it has not been easy being productive under the new normal, our safety shoes have performed fairly well, since most factories and security companies in the country have been operational; therefore, demand for the shoes has been intact,” he said.

9 COMMENTS

  1. “……The Zamleather general manager noted that the Zambeef tannery and shoe division managed to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic…..”

    Here is proff to all the naysayers who say a textile industry in Zambia can not work because of China and salaula …..

    Despite China and salaula , the footwear manufacturing in Zambia is alive and well

    How can you fail to produce your loin cloth and mothers staple wear , the chitenge ????

    We have proff that amogest lungus biggest campaign fund donners is the gang that holds import linscence tenders for Zambia defence forces…hence the reluctance to rejuvenated the textile industry in Zambia

  2. “Kaizer leather”. Please search for it and buy some great quality leather items. 10 percent discount ends tonight

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  3. This government should not even before covid, the decline in the economy started way before Covid. I have not read the article but if it is these people who blame anything and anybody for their failures, please don’t listen, We were better off by far in the MMD days, I can produce stats now if anybody who likes arguing as a hobby shows up.

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