Rwanda : Shoe maker earns a million francs monthly

Odette, governor of Eastern province visited his works

It is normal to hear people praising shoes made in western countries though it seems that there are experts in Rwanda as one Etienne Hakizimana claim to earn a better living from the art.

Hakizimana who owns a shoe factory in Gatsibo district testify to earn Rwf1, 000,000 monthly and has been doing this work for 20 years.

The man started in 1991 working with the factory SODEPARAL that cleans cowhides and has now gone to the level of making quality shoes.

Etienne Hakizimana justifies that the shoes made from his factory are no different from imported shoes. He requests Rwandans to value and buy homemade goods so that the manufacturers expand their business, improve on the quality and quantity.

Explaining on the challenges, Hakizimana talks about unskilled workers that have been working for him but now it is solved because he has trained 20 workers that he will employ after training.

“I am going to aquire a loan so that I expand my business and do different activites that are loved by people,”explains Hakizimana. He confirms to have got various cups and certificates at province and national levels for being a business person that promoted art.

Among the products made in this factory include men’s shoes, women’s shoes, belts, bags for women, and other leather made materials.

Although hakizimana’s products are praised for being beautifully made by those who buy them, clients request that Hakizimana looks for stronger shoe soles to use in his factory.

Hakizimana acknowledges that one of the problems he is trying to solve is looking for the strong and quality materials. He adds that after he gets necessary documents he can compete for tenders to make shoes for the solidiers, police people and other products made of leather in Rwanda.

Gatsibo district being one of the districts that have many cattle poses a chance of getting enough cowhides if a factory for cleaning cowhides is built to help artists in eastern province.

Posted in: http://rwandaarts.com/rwanda-shoe-maker-earns-million-francs-monthly/