adminNgoni Dapira
MUTARE’S filter manufacturing company, Kenrose Filters, has roped in a local partner, Raycock Investments (Pvt) in a bid to revamp operations after operating at nearly zero-percent capacity utilisation for the past five years. Kenrose Filters operations manager, Mr Shepherd Mukwekwezeke, said Raycock Investment came on board as a special purpose vehicle to breathe new-life into the entity.
“Raycock Investment is partnering with Kenrose as a special purpose vehicle owned by Kenrose Filters and CDF Trust on a 50-50 shareholder basis to revive the company.
“We used to operate nearly at zero-capacity utilisation, but we hope to revive operations to 80 percent capacity utilisation by end of the year,” said Mr Mukwekwezeke.
The general manager, Mr Jacob Hatendi, said although they were resuscitating their old-line of production of automotive and super-heavy filters their current focus would be on heavy duty mining equipment, buses and trucks and commuter omnibuses.
“We have already started manufacturing filters for buses where the demand is higher, but we really hope to break through in the mining sector, especially after the merger of all the Chiadzwa diamond companies into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company,” said Mr Hatendi.
He added that plans were underway to extend services and recondition filters considering the liquidity crunch in the country.
On pricing, he said they would be able to compete against cheap imports once their duty free licence to import filter paper from China is approved by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
He, however, implored local companies to support the Buy Zimbabwe initiative to ensure the survival of the country’s manufacturing sector.
He said if Zimbabwean firms support each other the inflating unemployment rate would decline.
“We have come to a point where everyone knows that the local industry is dying because of cheap imports, but we also have to come to a point where we should realise that the fate of our local industry lies in our hands through the Buy Zimbabwe initiative,” said Mr Hatendi.
Established in 1990 by the managing director, Mr Kenneth Dziruni, Kenrose Filters used to employ over 150 employees at its peak.
The company is automated, after it acquired machinery from Germany in 1996.
It has capacity to produce 1 000 filters per hour, producing light and heavy duty oil, air and fuel filters.
Online Reporter