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Brighton Gumbo, Business Reporter
MORE than 100 raw hides with a market value of close to $3,000 and a net worth of about $7,000 when processed into leather, were found dumped along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road yesterday.

The Business Chronicle visited the scene located between Sunninghill and Manningdale suburbs along Gwanda road in the city and observed that the hides were still fresh from slaughter and had been salted to avoid rot.

Sources who spoke to this paper said the hides had been the area for over a week.

The executive board chairman of the Leather Institute of Zimbabwe, Cornelio Sunduza, who was at the scene, said hides were the main input in the leather industry.

He said as a sector they were saddened by the development, and the perpetrator had proven that he or she has a capacity to slaughter more than 100 beasts, which could create jobs for many.

“Hides are the main ingredients in the leather sector contributing about 65 percent of the inputs and seeing people dump them is sad,” said Sunduza.

He cited the depressed international prices for hides and the fifth quarter statutory instrument as some of the reasons which could have led to the dumping of the hides.

In 2014, the government introduced a $0,75 levy on exports of raw hides in a move that was expected to boost value addition in the leather industry as well as curtail the exportation of raw hides by local abattoirs.

“The local people feel that this levy is stopping them from exporting but in actual terms it’s not, it’s a regulation put in place by the government to give an opportunity for value addition,” said Sunduza.

“The international hide price is around $1,25 with some locals charging $1,40.”

He said there was a need for the perpetrator to be identified and be brought to book as his actions could not be justified.

The leather industry in Zimbabwe is currently operating at below 50 percent of capacity owing to the tough economic environment and a government levy on exports of raw hides to encourage beneficiation.

Recently, ZimTrade revealed that since 2012, Zimbabwe’s exports of leather products had been declining.

It said the country exported $374,000 worth of leather products in 2014 compared to $591,000 and $486 000 in 2012 and 2013 respectively.