Online Reporter
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
THE upgrading of Edgars Stores’ Carousel Manufacturing Division in Bulawayo to the tune of US$1,2 million has created massive job opportunities for women and the youth who dominate the staff complement at the giant garment-making factory.
Situated in Belmont, the plant is a hub for modern fashion designs — producing high-quality clothes and supplying its three main chain stores, Edgars, Jet, and Express Stores countrywide as well as servicing exports.
President Mnangagwa, who conducted a tour of the factory yesterday, was impressed by the company’s new look and its latest equipment with women constituting the majority of workers.
As he entered the factory with his delegation for the first time, he marvelled at the dominance of women of different age groups who were busy doing their work alongside their male counterparts.
Each team member was strategically positioned along the production line with a specific duty in the production of a single garment with the final product exhibiting excellent teamwork.
In his remarks, President Mnangagwa said he was impressed by Carousel and commended the company for employing more women and investing in cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, which cements Bulawayo’s status as the industrial hub of the country.
“I’m very impressed, I have never been here before. This is my first visit to this place. I’m so impressed that we have these facilities in the country,” said President Mnangagwa in a brief interview with journalists.
“It’s so vast, providing employment, especially to women. I’m very, very impressed. So, when you say Bulawayo is the hub for manufacturing I now realise that it is true. I’m very impressed with what is happening here,” he added.
President arrived at the company’s premises shortly after 11AM accompanied by Vice President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Cabinet ministers, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, among other senior Government officials and corporate executives.
The delegation undertook a briefing before the tour of the company commenced during which President Mnangagwa was taken through the various production lines by senior Carousel officials who unpacked how the company had modernised its production processes.
Carousel managing director Mr Manfree Tanyanyiwa, said the company was honoured to host President Mnangagwa. He also said the company used the tour to apprise the President of some of its challenges and how it seeks the Government’s interventions to address them.
“We engaged the President on issues around smuggling and what the Government is doing to curb that so that we can boost the manufacturing industry in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Tanyanyiwa.
“The issue of smuggling cuts across so many sectors but I think the clothing industry is one of those most affected.
“We engaged him about our retooling exercise, our desire to upgrade even more machinery. We were asking for support so that we continue with the retooling exercise,” he added.
Mr Tanyanyiwa said when the company successfully retools, it will be able to increase its capacity while increasing its capacity utilisation hovering at around 60 percent.
He said the Edgars Group’s subsidiary was targeting to increase its production to 100,000 garments per month as it used to do in 1999.
“It [retooling] means we can produce more garments and production becomes cheaper making us more attractive to exports.
“That is the value at the end of the day. We need to go back to those 1999 levels where we were producing 100,000 a month, supplying our overseas markets,” said Mr Tanyanyiwa.
“At the moment we are around 60 percent capacity utilisation. For instance, in November 2024, we were producing over 60,000 units a month.
“But we can easily go back to the 1999 levels of producing 100 000 units but to be able to do that we need to ensure that the retooling exercise continues.”
Mr Tanyanyiwa said through retooling the company will be able to produce high standards and quality and said the company has so far pumped in US$1,2 million in its recapitalisation programme.
“From last year, we are talking about US1,2 million investment where we brought in new equipment. Some of that machinery you have already seen here has already been installed,” he said.
“Some of that machinery is also being made, for instance, we have a boiler being made in Harare and it will take out approximately over US$300 000. We expect it to be in-house in the next one and a half months,” said Mr Tanyanyiwa.
He said the company is employing about 550 people at the moment as it is focusing on winter productions with an additional 200 employees expected to be employed when they are approaching the summer season.
Mr Tanyanyiwa appealed to the public to support his company saying buying in the formal sector improves national social amenities as they remit taxes to the Government.
“Come support us, come support formalised businesses and that is the only way we can contribute to the revenue generation for the Government,” he said.
“When revenue is generated this is how the Government can provide essential services like health, and education. So, we do appeal to members of the public to come and support us.”
-@nqotshili
