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ZIMBABWE: Garment company gets US$ 200 million loan

HARARE: Passion View Garment, a garment making firm has been sanctioned a $200 million loan as working capital by the Small Enterprises Development Corporation (SEDCO) to start operations.  The SEDCO loan would be used to buy materials to start production.

The garment company based at Mutawatawa Growth Point in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) will use 50 new sewing machines received as donation from the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe. The machines were not being put to use since the First Lady donated them six years ago.

Following problems in the allocation of the machines, which saw the local leadership being accused of alleged favoritism, the initial distribution was cancelled.  Chief Chirinda then tried to start a garment making factory but the project did not take off. A small group of women used the machines as a co-operative in 2002 for about six months but the project folded up due to poor management. UMP Member of the House of Assembly Cde Kenneth Mutiwekuziva helped women in the area form Passion View, which has since been registered as a company.

The company is operating from the Government complex at Mutawatawa and has opened a school uniforms shop at the growth point.

Sedco general manager Mrs Fortunate Sekeso said the opening of the shop had brought relief to parents and guardians in UMP who used to travel to Murehwa or Harare to buy school uniforms. Mrs Sekeso said Sedco would help the company source industrial sewing machines as it grows in future.

"Although the company currently employs nine people including two men, it is expected to grow in leaps and bounds as demand for their service is very high in the area," said Mrs Sekeso.

Passion View director Mrs Loveless Jacob said they were struggling to meet the demand for uniforms since UMP was a big constituency. "The response by parents is overwhelming and our prices are a lot cheaper in comparison to Murehwa, Marondera and Harare. Factory supervisor Mr David Mwaruza said there was also high demand for overalls, work suits and tracksuits.

Source: Agencies • News Courtesy: BharatTextile.com