ZAMSHU FIRM WALKS AWAY WITH TOP SUPPLY AWARD

Zambeef Products shoe division recognised for supply strength

Staff at Zamleather celebrate their ZAM award, held by Shoe Plant Manager Stephen Kanyanta

Staff at Zamleather – the firm behind the Zamshu brand of footwear – have celebrated winning the prestigious Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) award as the Most Recommended and Proficient Supplier of 2013.

The division of Zambeef Products, which makes mine safety shoes, school shoes and football boots, as well as industrial safety wear, fought off strong competition from other local manufacturers to scoop the accolade.

Zamshu’s consistency of supply and the durability of its products helped swing the award in its favour, explained Shoe Plant Manager Stephen Kanyanta.

Some 94 workers are employed at the firm, including 72 hand-on shoe markers in the company’s shoe plant, which produces footwear under the Zamshu brand.

The company also supplies most of the safety shoes for mining giants Mopani and KCM, as well as spat leggings, welder aprons and smelter suits. That supply partnership was originally borne out of the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Copperbelt SME Suppliers Development Programme (CSSDP), but has now been sustained beyond that initiate.

The award was made at the third Annual Manufacturers Gala, the culmination of a week-long celebration of Zambian manufacturing that saw manufacturers awarded for their outstanding performance during the course of the year.

The award ceremony was graced by Vice President Hon. Dr. Guy Scott, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Richwell Siamunene, and the Permanent Secretary of Commerce Stephen Mwansa.

The gala brought together key stakeholders ranging from co-operating partners such as the World Bank and the Embassy of Finland, government institutions such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards, and PACRA, along with captains of industry and members of the

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