News / National
Grace Mugabe hails Bata Shoe Company
02 Mar 2013 at 04:48hrs | Views
THE First Lady Grace Mugabe has hailed Public Private Partnerships being implemented countrywide and urged companies to provide more job opportunities to the disabled to realise their potential.
She said PPPs were not a "panacea", but a powerful tool that guarantees better services through shared investments.
"Public finance is never enough to see all our programmes through and this means that the corporate sector should complement Government efforts in empowering physically challenged people as they can play a pivotal role in the building of the country's economy," she said.
"The potential in them should not be neglected and PPPs have done well in guaranteeing better services to this important group that have been marginalised in most cases."
Mugabe made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni during the commissioning of Danhiko-Bata Shoe Project in Harare yesterday.
The project is a join venture between Danhiko and Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company.
Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company will provide raw materials and expertise to children and workers at the institution for the production of shoes of various styles.
The institution will benefit from the shoe sales.
Amai Mugabe said people with disabilities should be afforded equal opportunities like their able bodied counterparts.
The First lady is also matron of the Danhiko Project.
"As the saying goes disability does not mean inability. Its high time everyone knows that there is a lot of capacity, talent and skill in those physically-challenged people," he said.
"This can only be seen if we also give them the same opportunities that we give to all members of the society."
Turning to the project, Mugabe said it would pioneer comprehensive modular courses with total emphasis on production of commercial leather products that can be marketed locally and internationally.
"In addition, the institution will be a resource centre for the much needed base of qualified trainers inleather work fully supported by Bata," she said.
"I urge you to forge ahead and meet the horizons of success."
The shoe project began in April 2012.
Bata managing director Mr Luis Pinto said the partnership with Danhiko was part of the company's social responsibility programmes.
"The relationship we have had with Danhiko is great.
It is our hope that such relations will continue growing from strength to strength as we try to develop the country," he said.
Danhiko Project principal director Mrs Elizabeth Dekune said they were facing challenges in marketing their products.
"We have got the products but they need a broader market and we do not have the resources to do so," she said.
"The two shops that we have as Danhiko are not adequate to sell our products and it is our hope that through such PPPs we will have access to various markets.
"We are also working hard to ensure that we become a resource centre and produce more people who specialise in leather."
Various products mainly made by children were on exhibition during the event while the guests were entertained by jazz musician Bob Nyabinde.
She said PPPs were not a "panacea", but a powerful tool that guarantees better services through shared investments.
"Public finance is never enough to see all our programmes through and this means that the corporate sector should complement Government efforts in empowering physically challenged people as they can play a pivotal role in the building of the country's economy," she said.
"The potential in them should not be neglected and PPPs have done well in guaranteeing better services to this important group that have been marginalised in most cases."
Mugabe made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni during the commissioning of Danhiko-Bata Shoe Project in Harare yesterday.
The project is a join venture between Danhiko and Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company.
Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company will provide raw materials and expertise to children and workers at the institution for the production of shoes of various styles.
The institution will benefit from the shoe sales.
Amai Mugabe said people with disabilities should be afforded equal opportunities like their able bodied counterparts.
The First lady is also matron of the Danhiko Project.
"As the saying goes disability does not mean inability. Its high time everyone knows that there is a lot of capacity, talent and skill in those physically-challenged people," he said.
"This can only be seen if we also give them the same opportunities that we give to all members of the society."
"In addition, the institution will be a resource centre for the much needed base of qualified trainers inleather work fully supported by Bata," she said.
"I urge you to forge ahead and meet the horizons of success."
The shoe project began in April 2012.
Bata managing director Mr Luis Pinto said the partnership with Danhiko was part of the company's social responsibility programmes.
"The relationship we have had with Danhiko is great.
It is our hope that such relations will continue growing from strength to strength as we try to develop the country," he said.
Danhiko Project principal director Mrs Elizabeth Dekune said they were facing challenges in marketing their products.
"We have got the products but they need a broader market and we do not have the resources to do so," she said.
"The two shops that we have as Danhiko are not adequate to sell our products and it is our hope that through such PPPs we will have access to various markets.
"We are also working hard to ensure that we become a resource centre and produce more people who specialise in leather."
Various products mainly made by children were on exhibition during the event while the guests were entertained by jazz musician Bob Nyabinde.
Source - TH
