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Canditar Chapanduka, Chronicle Reporter
MSINDAZWE Ndlovu, a Bulawayo youth, has made significant strides in promoting gender equality by employing over 100 women at his eco-friendly manufacturing company, The Noble Savage.

The company produces building materials such as roof tiles, pavers and kitchen counter-tops from recycled plastics and glass. Ndlovu’s vision is to become a leading producer of low-cost building materials.

The company collects waste from dumpsites and bins in residential and commercial areas. In an interview, Ndlovu said his company employs more than 100 women who collect waste from the city’s dumpsites and bins in the residential areas.

He said 14 men are involved in the manufacture of the building materials.

“Most of the people we employ are not skilled and as such we train them on the job. I also don’t have engineering qualificiations and as such when I started this business of plastic and glass recycling, it was  a trial and error. I perfected the skills with time until I started producing products that appealed to the market,” he said.

Ndlovu said he has been in the business of producing building materials for the past four years and says his market is growing fast. He said he started small, operating from his backyard in Morningside suburb before expanding and opening a factory at Westondale industrial area.

A baling machine and collected waste— (Picture by Fortunate Nkomo)

Ndlovu said he is not just producing for the local market as he exports some of his products to countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.

He said he now has most of the required equipment hence his company is now producing products that are in high demand locally and internationally. “We want to work with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and assist in putting bins at strategic points around the city,” said Ndlovu. – @NomqheleC