Dineo Gobatilwe, founder of Dinny Leather Works, operates a leather processing machine she bought from China in Palapye, Botswana, on July 20, 2023. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
GABORONE, July 26 (Xinhua) -- In the vast landscapes of Botswana, where the cattle population is estimated to be at 2.1 million, the country has an abundance of raw hides and skins locally, one small business owner has discovered a niche in the market in producing finished leather products.
Based in Palapye, about 270 km from Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, Dineo Gobatilwe, a 34-year-old mother of two, operates a leather works company named Dinny Leather Works that produces goods such as school shoes, sandals, belts, hats, and leather frames.
In 2014, the company was created with government financial support of 98,000 Botswana pula (7,504 U.S. dollars). She bought equipment from China and has deployed the machinery for manufacturing since the company's inception.
In an interview with Xinhua, Gobatilwe explained that she chose to pursue leather works due to a lack of employment opportunities, saying she noticed a gap in the leather industry while everyone else focused on fashion design.
"I wanted to be unique because only Pilane leatherworks and the Basarwa tribe were involved in making traditional leather products, so I decided to combine Pilane and Basarwa skills to make modern products," she said.
To make better products, Gobatilwe uses vegetable-tanned leather, which is known for its natural feel, sweet scent, patina over time, and toughness. When making her products, she picks the right leather without cracks, "That's why my products look quality and last longer," explained the degree holder in fashion design from Limkokwing University, a private university that has a presence across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
The company is able to sustain itself through a partnership with Palapye District Council, where she provides more than 500 pairs of shoes to orphans and less privileged students in the Palapye region and surrounding areas. She further stated that other customers are from local traditional groups and the public.
Currently, the company has three workers. As for her secret to survive in a rather difficult industry, she said passion and focus are important whether you have money or not. Her advice to others in the industry is to have a long-term plan and be patient.
While the local market is promising, Gobatilwe already has her sights set on the international market. "I've had the opportunity to go to Dubai to exhibit my products; I also work with the Botswana Investment and Trade Center and participated in their workshop," she said.
Gobatilwe has since received support from the Visual Arts Office with the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports, and Culture. Her company also attended the US-Africa business forum in Botswana earlier this month.
She, however, said that running a leather company in Botswana is not without difficulties. Even though the country produces about 300,000 hides each year, it still does not have the means to process its hides into fine leather.
The country sells 50 percent of its raw hides and 100 percent of its raw skins, with half of the hides treated to wet-blue ( moist chrome-tanned leather), according to the Botswana Meat Commission.
Despite the difficulties, Gobatilwe has effectively capitalized on the tremendous opportunity given by the local cattle and leather industries and helped to contribute to the expansion of Botswana's economy by seizing the potential in both local and export markets.
Gobatilwe serves as an example for other small business owners trying to discover unexplored markets and enhance their chances of success.
Botswana's government has put in place steps to help small enterprises in this industry. Various government measures, such as financial assistance, training programs, and market access assistance, have benefited business owners. The entrepreneurs received advice on industry best practices, marketing techniques, and export laws by collaborating with government organizations, according to the Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry.
Botswana intends to establish a thriving leather cluster, beginning with the construction of a leather park in Lobatse, a town 72 km southeast of Gaborone, the ministry said. ■
Dineo Gobatilwe, founder of Dinny Leather Works, displays a leather product framed for hanging on the wall in Palapye, Botswana, on July 20, 2023. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
(230726) -- TLOKWENG (BOTSWANA), July 26, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Dineo Gobatilwe, founder of Dinny Leather Works, showcases leather products during the U.S.-Africa business summit in Tlokweng, some 5.9 kilometers from Gaborone, Botswana, on July 12, 2023. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
