Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development conducted a ten (10) day training on Vegetable (plant based) tanning at Artisanal/MSMEs at Kadoma in Zimbabwe.
The training was conducted from 8th – 17th July 2019 by Harrison Mungai ( Leather Value Chain and Tannery Expert) on behalf of the ALLPI. The funds for the training was availed by European Union through COMESA Secretariat under the Regional Integration Implementation Project Phase Two. ALLPI also thanked the COMESA Clearing House for their role in facilitating and supporting in the preparation of the much needed programme.
During the official opening, which was held at Tambudze Tannery in Kadoma, the Principal Secretary was represented by Mr.B. Chaderopa, Chief Economist in the Ministry and was accompanied by senior officials from COMESA Clearance House (CCH). 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 Zimbabwe.
The participants were taken through the following theory and practice:-
- Methods of flaying and their effect on hide and skins quality;
- Pre, peri and post- slaughter defects and their effect on hides and skins quality;
- Types of preservation such as air drying, wet-salting, dry salting, pickling, mimosa cure, ground drying, appropriate curing salt, curing/preservation facilities, storage and transportation etc;
- Acids and bases - indicators and neutralization;
- Recipe percentages and calculations;
- Introduction to tannery machines, tools and equipment;
- Sorting, selection and grading of raw hides and skins;
- Production of quality leather in an environmentally friendly manner in order to attain higher customer satisfaction;
- Pre- tanning operations: soaking, liming, de-liming, bating, pickling, tanning and basification;
- Types of Tannages: Vegetable at artisanal level, Chrome, and other combination tannages;
- Post tanning operations: Sammying, splitting, shaving, weighing, re-tanning, dyeing fat liquoring, various methods of leather drying, conditioning, staking, buffing, de-dusting and impregnation;
- Production of different type of leathers and their end uses;
- Leather specifications and their application;
- Production of batik dyed leathers;
- Embossing/plating, measuring, selection and grading of leathers.
The expected number of trainees was 15 but 13 showed up (11 Males and 2 Females).
