1 000 EMASWATI TO BE EMPLOYED BY GAMULA FACTORY

BY PRINCESS MAHLALELA

MBABANE – Jobs are coming for hundreds of Emaswati in the Lubombo Region.

At least over 1 000 Emaswati will soon be employed by soon-to-be completed Gamula factory.

The employment opportunities were announced by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo when touring the factory on Wednesday. On this day, the minister toured both Gamula and Ndzevane factory sites.

This publication has gathered that the aim of the tour was for the Minister and potential investors to assess construction progress at the two factory sites.

It is said the Gamula factory shell, which is near completion, will be occupied by Kingsgate Clothing, a textile company that already has two factories in the country; at Buhleni and Siphofaneni, while the Ndzevane factory shell, which is yet to be commissioned, will be occupied by Sigma Clothing.

According to government social media page, the Minister has also toured a Swati-owned factory shell, Mtfombeni Investment, owned by Carol Sibandze-Mziyako. This textile factory, which employs about 200 emaSwati, deals with fashionwear and workwear, which is mostly exported to Mozambique.

It started operating in March this year.
Speaking on the Gamula factory, the minister said; “We expect this project to be complete by July this year and we are excited that indications are that we will meet the deadline. Secondly, we are excited that this project will employ over 1 000 Emaswati, mainly from Gamula and surrounding areas.”

He continued: “As soon as the project is finished, the investor will be ready to bring in their machinery. Also quite exciting is that Government is also building at a state-of-the-art clinic nearby, which will service the community and the factory workers.”

When speaking on the Ndzevane factory, the minister said: “We are here because we are very close to starting this particular project. In about 15 days, I will be here to commission the project. But the most important thing about the project is that there has to be an investor who will occupy the factory shell, and if all goes well, they will hire more than 1 000 people.”

Both Kingsgate and Sigma directorship expressed keen interest to occupy the two factory shells and thus contribute to job creation in the country.