David Whitehead rebounds, eyes 1 000 jobs

David Whitehead Textiles Zimbabwe Private Limited is firmly back on its feet, with operations in Kadoma and Chegutu now running, an official has said.

Mr Tendayi Chetse from David Whitehead said this signals a significant resurgence for the country’s clothing and textile industry.

He was speaking at the National Oilseeds Conference 2025 that is being in Kadoma.

David Whitehead, a former giant in the sector, currently employs approximately 400 people and aims to expand its workforce to 1 000 as production scales up.

“The country’s largest textile company – David Whitehead – is firmly back on its feet,” Mr Chetse stated, emphasising the tangible progress being made.

He detailed the status of the company’s key facilities.

In Kadoma, the spinning and knitting operations are fully functional, alongside the production of mutton cloth and twine. The facility is now capable of producing 4 000 tonnes of yarn, 1 200 tonnes of knitted fabric, 600 tonnes of mutton cloth, and 600 tonnes of twine.

The Chegutu plant, he noted, has resumed weaving and processing operations. The facility is geared to produce an impressive 24 million metres of woven fabric annually, said Mr Chetse.

Mr Chetse highlighted that the industry which once employed over 35 000 people now supports less than 10 000 jobs nationwide.

This drastic reduction, he explained, is primarily due to high production costs, intense competition from cheap imports, rampant smuggling of goods, and the widespread availability of second-hand clothing.

Mr Chetse underscored the critical need for strategic investment decisions that align with current demand and supply dynamics.

He stressed that the revival of the entire value chain is anchored by deliberate strong Government support, indicating that policy interventions are crucial for sustained growth.-herald