Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute, in collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Commerce, Industry and co-operative held Artisanal/MSMEs training program in Vegetable tanning at Artisanal/MSMEs level and thus change the situation where over the years and until now the Artisans have been tanning hides and skins in over two to three weeks a scenario which was covered in 8 – 9 days.

ALLPI Experts Delivering the Training
ALLPI Experts Delivering the Training
Partial View of the Training Session
Partial View of the Training Session
Partial View of the Training Session
Partial View of the Training Session
Trainees with their final products
Trainees with their final products
Director admires pieces of leather and end products produced by the trainees
Director admires pieces of leather and end products produced by the trainees
One of the trainees receives her certificate from the Director of Industry
One of the trainees receives her certificate from the Director of Industry
Group photo after issuance of the certificates to the trainees
Group photo after issuance of the certificates to the trainees
The objective of the training was to enhance skill development at cottage level to facilitate technology transfer in aspect of artisanal tanning-based techniques in Zambia. The training was conducted by Harrison Mungai (ALLPI Leather Value Chain Expert and Tannery Expert) who also delivered greeting to the Ministry and the entire trainees on behalf of the Executive Director of ALLPI. He was assisted by Crispin Amasi (Artisanal Tanning Expert) from Malawi. The Ministry was represented by Madam Nanubebo Akombaetwa who is an economist. The 10-day event was conducted at Co-operative College from 21st – 30th May 2018.
The training focussed on processing of skins from raw to crust stage using vegetable, mineral and combination tannages without the use of any machine except the use of plastic containers which they can use to produce various types of leathers at the backyard of their homes and also to expose the trainees to different characteristics of various types of tannages.
Key area covered included the following: -
  1. Hides and Skins curing, preservation and Selection bearing in mind the type of leather to be produced,
  2. Beam house operation (Pre-soaking/soaking, liming, de-liming, bating and pickling) and corrective measures to be taken in case of troubleshooting along the production chain,
  3. Tanning operations including handling and application of chemicals during tanning as most of them are hazardous to human health if precaution measures are not adhered to.
  4. Production of vegetable tanned and then batik dyed leather,
  5. Production of Hair-on leather,
  6. All mechanical operations which follows after tanning and before post tanning operations,
  7. Post tanning process (Neutralization, retanning, dyeing and fatliqouring) their advantages and disadvantages.
  8. Environmental management (solid and waste water) handling and disposal system,
  9. Occupational Health and Safety in workplace.

A total of 23 Artisans/MSMEs (19 males and 4 females) from different segments of leather value chain and teaching profession and drawn from different parts of the country benefited to this hand-on training.
The closing ceremony was presided by Director of industry who also issued the certificates of participation to the trainees.

Finally, the evaluation forms were distributed to the trainees and feedbacks were very positive, confirming full attainment of the training objectives.