Lusaka Securities Exchange – LuSE listed Zambeef (ZMBF -ISIN0000000121) is this time in the news not for winter maize harvest or crop diversification but for soccer reasons gravitating around lightening rugby boots. These boots have been endorsed and nodded by Former England Rugby Union International and World Cup winner and founder of the Atlas Foundation Jason Leonard. The Briton has been knocked sideways by the quality of locally produced rugby and soccer boots called ‘kaleza’, which is a vernacular word for lightening. The popular Z-12 boots made by Zamleather, a Zambeef Plc division specialising in leather processing and tanning are gaining momentum real fast as their demand ratchets real fast in Africa’s red metal producer.
The Atlas Foundation is a non-profit organisation imparting life skills and values such as education, teamwork and discipline to children in underprivileged areas in 16 countries around the world. Leonard could not resists but purchase 60 pairs of the kaleza boots to distribute to youngsters in Zimbabwe an event captured by African Business Network magazine giving the boots the thumbs-up.
“The leather rugby boots were nothing short of world class, and Jason was delighted with the quality and the brand of the leather boots which will be used for all matches and key training practices. It would make sense that all further orders go through you so that this quality boot takes its place across many more clubs and schools throughout Africa and other regions,” said tour organiser Sue Anderson.
“The Kaleza Z-12 boots were borne from the desire to have a sports boot on the market that is designed, manufactured and packaged locally as well as suited to our terrain, and is not only affordable but of international quality,” said Zamleather General Manager Richard Franklin.
“It is important for us to be involved at the grassroots as a local sports shoe brand, as a way of reinforcing our commitment and also to communicate the values of quality, discipline and determination among the upcoming generations. It is possible for Zambia to produce quality in terms of talent as well as other products and that is what value addition is all about for us here at Kaleza and Zamleather,” noted Mr Franklin.
Zambeefs CSR through Kaleza project
As part of Zambeef Plc’s corporate social responsibility, Zamleather, through Kaleza, has supported smaller and kindergarten leagues and community initiatives by donating football boots and balls. The LuSE listed entity supports the non-governmental ‘Alive and Kicking’, an HIV/AIDS and Malaria awareness project, whose stitching centre is based at the Zamleather premises in Lusaka. Zambia’s leather industry holds much promise, and growth in the sector can be spurred by building markets for local finished leather products that ride on value addition, added Mr Franklin.
“What we need is for local entrepreneurs to look at leather as a readily available natural, local product that provides infinite business opportunities for value addition to our local hides,” he explained.
Zamleather operates the country’s largest operating tannery, with subdivisions that produce protective clothing and safety boots, Zamshu school and sports shoes, and wet blue hides and finished leather material that can be used for upholstery.
“Africa, and the world at large, is striving for a green industrialisation through the use of local raw materials with a view to zero waste. Zamleather embodies this principle in that it takes raw hides from the Zambeef Group’s beef division, adding value,” said Mr Franklin.
One product fast gaining popularity in local sporting circles is its line of Kaleza Z-12 football and Astroturf boots. From the onset, Kaleza models were made to stand out on the market in more ways than one. First released in 2013 they have since gained a reputation on football pitches across the country as the Zambia’s quality affordable lightweight football boots.
Zambeef Plc is a Lusaka Securities Exchange listed entity specialised in retail and cold chain food, stock feed, agriculture crop growth and leather tanning. It has over 206 outlets both in Central and West Africa.
Zambeef PLCs market capitalization as at 09 October, 2019 was $18.7million with share price of K1 per share.
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