The City of Bulawayo Home Industries continues in its bid to empower the less privileged women and youths with survival and hand craft skills.
The Home Industries which were found in 1963 and registered in 1982 currently has a total of 120 members drawn from various parts of the City.
The Acting Director of Housing and Community Services, Mr Mackenzie W Moyo highlighted that the Home Industries has been crucial in supplying regional and international markets with Basketry, floor rags, mohair scarves and hats.
“It has been supplying assorted items to local markets, basketry to Design Africa and Jambo Enterprise (both in South Africa), floor rugs to UK Trade Craft and Mohair scarves and hats to Peoples Tree in Japan. Countries like Spain and France have also been a market place for Bulawayo Home Industries,” he said.
He added that because of the diversity in its products, the section has been able to exhibit at different places in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“Some of the places include Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Art Gallery and Zimtrade organised exhibitions; Polokwane and Ethekwini in South Africa. These exhibitions have helped the section market itself and attract a lot of people to their products,” he said.
Moyo further highlighted that the funds generated from these activities have been ploughed back to the project community and the rest is given to the clients who would have produced, finished and dispatched some items for sale.
He further noted that the Home Industries has been crucial in ensuring that the under privileged are equipped with skills to improve their livelihoods.
“This initiative has changed the lives of the beneficiaries because of what they get at the end of each month. Empowered by the Bulawayo City Council, Bulawayo Home Industries has an open door policy which allows everyone a chance to be part of it,” he said.
