By Kudakwashe Tirivavi
Thirteen arts and crafts cooperatives have formed the Victoria Falls Arts and Crafts Cooperative Union, following a capacity-building programme held from 16 to 17 September 2026. The Union was officially launched on 18 September 2026.
The programme strengthened the cooperatives’ understanding of management, regulatory compliance, product development and market access. ZimTrade presented export opportunities for arts and crafts, focusing on the requirements producers must meet to secure and retain international buyers.
The Union’s formation comes as global demand for arts and crafts continues to grow.
According to Trade Map data, world imports within the broader arts and crafts product group increased from US$276.3 billion in 2021 to US$319.4 billion in 2025.
This represents growth of 15.6 percent over the period, equivalent to an average annual growth rate of three percent.
The United States was the largest importing market in 2025, with imports valued at US$50.7 billion.
Other major markets included Hong Kong at US$29.5 billion, the United Arab Emirates at US$23.4 billion, Switzerland at US$15.9 billion, France at US$15 billion, Japan at US$14.3 billion, Germany at US$13.5 billion and the United Kingdom at US$11.7 billion.
These figures show opportunities across different market levels.
South Africa and Namibia provide accessible regional markets, while Victoria Falls hotels and tourism operators offer an immediate local route to international customers.
Established markets such as the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom offer greater demand, while the United Arab Emirates and selected Asian markets provide further growth opportunities.
Worked stone and original sculpture remain Zimbabwe’s main strengths.
In 2025, worked stone exports reached US$4.7 million, while original sculpture contributed US$1.65 million.
Together, the two product groups accounted for 80.5 percent of Zimbabwe’s recorded arts and crafts exports.
Wood décor exports also increased from US$103,000 to US$434,000, while basketry exports stood at only US$137,000, despite a global basketry import market estimated at US$2 billion.
Other relevant global opportunities include sculpture, valued at US$4.8 billion, fashion jewellery at US$7.8 billion, wood décor at US$2 billion and paintings at US$22.3 billion.
These figures support the development of products beyond the traditional tourist souvenir market.
Opportunities exist in hospitality interiors, homeware, corporate gifts, fashion accessories and smaller products suited to online sales.
Most members of the new Union are stone and wood sculptors.
Their products already have a market history, including participation at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Income earned from Japan helped support members during a period of lower tourist traffic in Victoria Falls.
Preparations for participation at Expo 2027 Belgrade, Serbia provide another opportunity to build on this experience and develop repeat international business.
The newly formed Union offers a practical structure for coordinating production and serving larger buyers.
It can receive orders centrally, allocate work among specialised groups, apply common product specifications and consolidate goods for delivery.
This will help address the challenges that individual producers face when buyers require higher volumes, consistent quality and fixed delivery periods.
Each product will need a clear specification covering its materials, dimensions, weight, finish, production capacity, lead time and packaging.
An approved sample can then guide production across the cooperatives.
This approach will reduce product differences within an order and make pricing and repeat orders easier to manage.
The Union can also lower the shared cost of packaging, transport and buyer development. It provides a single point of contact for hotels, international buyers and development partners.
