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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
BULAWAYO is warming up to host this year’s clothing indaba that will coincide with the official launch of the cotton production strategy this week. Players in the textile sector are gearing themselves for the event set to tackle challenges facing their operations and map strategies of boosting productivity. Jeremy Youmans, who chairs the Zimbabwe Clothing Manufacturers Association, said the one-day event will be held at a local hotel where there will be a mini-exhibition of garments and designs.

“We’ll have a fashion show of locally made goods and garments made by our student designers around the country. Business to business meetings will also take place,” he said.

Youmans said the meeting would coincide with the official launching of the Zimbabwe cotton strategy.
“The strategy has been developed over the last five months led by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Representatives of the entire value chain, ginners, oil expressers, and textile, clothing and government agencies were also involved.

“The objectives are based on what is within our control and can be achieved within the time frame with available resources. The strategy will be launched at the clothing indaba,” said Youmans.

He said the event would be held on Friday under the theme “Made in Zimbabwe”.
Yourmans said 105 companies were registered under the clothing sector.

“Most people think the industry is finished but there are still 105 registered companies operating. They have the capacity to employ 6,800 people. Some of these are exporting substantial amounts of garments,” he said.

“We recognise we’ve to be able to compete. This can be done if goods imported pay the correct duties and you compare like garments.
“We’re engaging Zimra to discuss on better control of imports in an effort to make ourselves more competitive.”
The Minister of Industry and Commerce Mike Bimha is expected to deliver the keynote address.

The clothing sector at its peak employed about 35,000 workers countrywide compared to the present levels of about 7,000.
The sector used to produce about 135 million garments annually compared to the current 18.7 million.
Statistics indicate Zimbabwe is importing at least $300 million clothing products annually.