The Sunday Mail
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
SOME years ago, David Whitehead Textiles (DWT) — which operated in Kadoma and Chegutu — was southern Africa’s biggest textile company.
The firm pumped life into the two Mashonaland West towns, supporting families of over 5 000 employees while also boosting communities through construction of houses, schools and other social amenities.
As such, when DWT closed in 2013, the quality of life for many people in Kadoma and Chegutu took a nosedive.
But there is now renewed hope from residents of the two towns that the ongoing resuscitation of DWT will bring back the glory days.
A report released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce a few weeks ago states that DWT’s revival is on course and will provide a critical opportunity for the country to create jobs and cut imports of textile products.
“The relaunch of David Whitehead is anchored in a machine retooling programme valued at US$20 million targeting to replace about 90 percent of obsolete machinery. To date, 40 percent of spinning and weaving machinery has been received and others are already in transit. Massive civil works are ongoing at the factory in preparation for installation of the new equipment,” said the report.
Indian investor Agri Value Chain (AVC) is spearheading DWT’s revival.
The Kadoma spinning division — which provides the genesis of textile manufacturing — is set to massively produce yarn, a key raw material for the Chegutu plant.
A target of one million metres of lint has been set by the new investor, which has also sunk at least US$18 million into the first phase.
Already, installation of brand-new equipment for the open-end and ring-filling operations is in motion, as engineers started arriving into the country this month to set up the advanced machinery.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail last week, residents of Kadoma and Chegutu expressed joy at these latest developments.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to secure jobs at the plant that is being resuscitated. Although we haven’t seen the inside of the plant since the works started, it is the movement of several haulage trucks carrying containers that has given us hope,” said Mrs Elizabeth Banda, the daughter of a late former DWT worker.
Progress at the Kadoma plant is at an advanced stage, with aesthetic works and installation of air conditioning systems having been completed.
Over 70 former employees recently rehired as general hands at the plant were working hand-in-glove with Indian engineers installing the modern equipment.
DWT’s Kadoma stores manager Ms Tariro Mulenga said to date, the Kadoma plant had received over 90 percent of equipment, including high-speed spindle machines.
A former DWT employee, Sekuru Makwasha of Kadoma said he worked for the company from 1969 until 2013, and knows the potential the company has.
“This revival is going to change lives. I also believe the company should give opportunities to former employees who are still fit to execute duties because they know the system and working environment, and have so much passion to see this revival becoming a reality,” said the septuagenarian.
Mr Robert Kuyerukana is one of the workers recently re-employed by the company, after he was laid off 14 years ago.
“I worked for the company for six years from 2003 before retrenchment in 2009, alongside thousands of others. I am overjoyed to be re-employed this year. This is a giant textile plant that was lying idle. Resuscitation means a lot to me and my colleagues. These new machines mean progress,” he said.
General manager of the Kadoma plant Mr Thomas Mangozho, who first joined DWT in 1983, said he is impressed by the quality and quantity of equipment imported by the new investor.
“The acquisition of new machinery and stripping of old equipment is a sign that DWT is headed for the good days of old. This is bringing smiles to people in Kadoma, Chegutu, Mashonaland West and the whole country. I can tell you from experience, this is going to be a massive project. New equipment is expected to improve our quality and way of doing work,” he said.
At Chegutu’s weaving plant, there are also high hopes.
The Sunday Mail spoke to the secretary of the non-managerial workers’ committee, Mr Charumbira Muremba, and the chairperson of the managerial workers’ committee, Mr Leo Gwanzura, who both confirmed that the groundwork for installation of new equipment had been finished.
They also revealed that workers are being paid “handsomely” during preparatory works for the resuscitation that will lead to employment of even more workers.
Unlike Kadoma, which is home to several companies, David Whitehead was the major employer in Chegutu.
Chegutu resident Mr Albert Beretino said: “Everyone is looking forward to the opening of the plant as this will help a lot of people to put food on the table.”
The Chegutu community is also elated by the company’s commitment to let them occupy houses owned by DWT.
David Whitehead chief production officer Mr Tendai Chetse said currently, in Chegutu, they are laying the foundations for installation of new machinery.
“We have taken delivery of 10 containers with new machines and we expect more. Refurbishment of our water, electricity, air and steam supply system ahead of the installation of new machinery has been completed,” he said.
Mr Chetse added that the Chegutu weaving plant was expected to receive 36 new looms, two boilers and other machinery within the next 30 days before successful installation of the machinery by next month.
AVC director for technical services Mr Narender Panwar said foreign engineers who are in the country to set up the machinery will also train locals.
“They have started arriving in the country for commissioning of the machinery. Our local workers will also be trained to repair and maintain this new equipment. Installation works started last week (a fortnight ago) and will take at least two months to complete. Training of workers to operate the machines is going to take three to six months,” he said.
AVC has also spread its wings to cooking oil and soap manufacturing. As a result, the investor is also contracting farmers to grow sunflower around Chegutu and Kadoma. So, both cotton farmers and sunflower growers are set to benefit a lot from the company’s projects.
