Treger invests US$4,5 m in retooling as it angles for growth

Treger Group of Companies in Bulawayo has invested over US$4.5 million in retooling, aiming to once again become a leading regional manufacturer.

Despite recent operational challenges, the company has demonstrated resilience and consistent growth in production and capacity utilisation.

Founded in 1911 by the Treger family, the privately owned company is now the largest manufacturer of household cookware and appliances in Africa.

Managing Director, Fritzpatrick Mawovera, said in the past four years, the firm has invested close to US$4.5 million in the latest technology.

He said they aim to be a leading manufacturer in the region.

“We aim to be one of the leading manufacturers not only in Zimbabwe but in the region. We have invested more than US$4,5 million in latest technology in the plant. However, there are issues that we would want authorities to look into. The manufacturing sector is a dying industry. There are cheap imports that are coming into the country.

“We need that space to be regulated, the informal sector is growing and is unregulated providing unfair competition.”

Another key element is industrial incentives.

“We also want companies to be incentivised to employ bigger numbers and have access to cheaper loans to further retool factories.”

Treger Group is one of the largest manufacturers of window and door frames, wheelbarrows, geysers, kitchen furniture, painted and galvanised hardware to the building and allied industries.

Its products are of high quality and conform to the SAZ standards.

The Government has also been assisting companies to retool hence a significant number of businesses are back in production and creating employment through diversification of operating models.

Government has since launched the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan 2024 -2025 promote industrial development as the country strives to be an upper-middle income society by 2030.

The plan seeks to address challenges hindering the growth of the manufacturing and commercial sectors, including issues such as competitiveness, the cost of doing business, promotion of links with small and medium enterprises, innovation and research.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce  was allocated ZiG509 million for the implementation of the plan in the 2025 National Budget.

Government has for a while now been determined to revive poor-performing sectors of the economy as the country gears towards an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.