Zimbabwean government in a bid to revive Bulawayo, once industrial hub of the nation has declared it a SEZ for textile and clothing also the national cotton to clothing Policy was launched in Bulawayo to emphasize the drive to improve the textile industry, said Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa.

Looking at that, they assume that they will harvest a lot of cotton this season. Hon Made will probably give them the tonnage but they are expecting about 100 000 metric tonnes of cotton.

Bulawayo companies will process more than 100000 tonnes of cotton that the country is likely to harvest this season.

Deputy Minister Mabuwa said that the move to process the cotton in Bulawayo was meant to rejuvenate the textile industries. She said that the resuscitation of Bulawayo industries was important as spelt out by the Special Economic zones law.

Deputy Minister said that Bulawayo should have a place where this cotton should be processed from lint right through the value chain up to clothing.

The textile industry in Bulawayo has since been resuscitated and they are supplying Edgars with clothes manufactured in Bulawayo and that there is no reason to import suits and shirts for men because they have them in Bulawayo.

However, a majority of Bulawayo industries have shut down over the years, reducing the city from its one time lofty status of being the country’s manufacturing hub.

The government plans to have a Bulawayo showcase programme just before this year’s international Trade Fair to market what is happening in the city.