During the visit, Deputy Minister Haritatos, accompanied by Benin’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Gaston Dossouhouli, explored the clothing value chain. This pivotal engagement aimed to identify strategies to unlock Zimbabwe’s agro-export potential.
The delegation toured two factories, each employing 500 young people, highlighting the textile industry’s capacity to create rural youth employment. Minister Haritatos emphasized the importance of adopting this model to transform Zimbabwe’s cotton sector by increasing production and adding value.
By replicating Benin’s successful approach, Zimbabwe can enhance its cotton industry to satisfy both domestic and international demand, creating substantial economic opportunities and empowering communities nationwide.
“We had some really great interactions where we’ve seen companies like Nike, Adidas, and Polo, a US-based company, show keen interest in Benin. This is something we want to replicate in Zimbabwe, as we have a very strong cotton sector,” stated Deputy Minister Haritatos. “In our opinion, it’s a sleeping giant. So, we are exploring how we can increase our production and strengthen the value chain – from raw cotton to finished textiles – to positively contribute. The potential for value addition is massive.” Minister Haritatos further noted the broader benefits of a thriving cotton industry during his tour of the Benin rural industrial hub. “As we know, cotton is not only about clothing; it also yields valuable byproducts. These byproducts can be used in livestock feed and industries like soap manufacturing.”
He emphasized that Benin’s President’s vision of rural industrialization and youth empowerment aligns with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s similar goals for Zimbabwe.
According to the Deputy Minister, the visit provided an opportunity to learn from Benin’s successful agricultural practices that could be adopted in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe once boasted a vibrant clothing industry supported by a robust cotton farming sector. However, a decline in global cotton prices led many farmers to shift to alternative crops such as maize and tobacco.
Despite these challenges, the existing infrastructure for the cotton value chain remains, and as hinted by Deputy Minister Haritatos, Zimbabwe’s clothing industry has the potential to re-emerge as a significant player.
“As I mentioned regarding Benin’s agreements with companies like Polo, we are also keen on engaging in discussions with such companies to explore how, in the coming years, we can also produce and export to markets in the US, EU, UK, Middle East, and even further afield like China,” said Deputy Minister Haritatos.
Drawing on the insights gained in Benin, the Zimbabwean delegation recognizes the imperative of strengthening both primary cotton production and value addition. A robust cotton industry is seen as a crucial catalyst for propelling households towards achieving Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
Reinforcing this commitment, Zimbabwe currently supports 400,000 hectares of cotton under the Presidential Input Programme, highlighting a national commitment to sustainable agricultural transformation.
