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Blessing Karubwa, Features Reporter
EXOTIC tannery specialists, Zambezi Tanners, recently scooped the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Best Exporter: Agriculture Award.

The company, which was founded in 2011, processes animal hides into finished leathers, meeting international quality standards.

While Nile crocodile is at the core of their business, the company also processes a wide selection of other exotic hides.

The company aims to become the leading supplier of quality finished leathers to the country and internationally.

Zambezi Tanners recently launched a separate division called Matobo Tanning, a specialist bovine finishing tannery.

The establishment’s general manager Mr Arnold Britten said the plant is at the installation phase and would, upon completion, be providing bovine leather for the footwear and furniture upholstery market.

“We currently export 90 percent of our production to the USA, Japan, China and Europe as crust or finished leathers ready for production of leather goods. As 90 percent of our output is consumed by the export market, our business has been hard hit by the effects of Covid-19 in our trading partners markets,” said Mr Britten.

He however, said the company has seen an improvement in the last quarter of 2021 and remain optimistic for 2022.

“We continue to manage our reduced earnings in line with our expenditure to allow us to weather the downside of business due to Covid-19,” said Mr Britten.

Zambezi Tanners is committed to environmental, economic and social sustainability.

The company is located at number 37 Silver Crescent, Kelvin West in Bulawayo.