Bright future for Tanzania as exports for second-hand clothes looms

PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has predicted a bright future for Tanzania free of imported second-hand clothes, thanks to a growing number of textile industries in the country. The premier was equally impressed that the textiles will provide ready and reliable market for the country’s cotton, urging farmers of the cash crop to produce in large quantities to provide sufficient raw materials for the industries. Mr Majaliwa made the remarks in Dar es Salaam over the weekend during his working tour of fabric manufacturing plants, Namera Group of Companies, at Gongo la Mboto area and Ubungo-based Nida Textile Mill. “Existence of textile mills is a clear indication that the country is determined to get rid of second-hand clothes and instead rely on own production at affordable prices,” he stated, noting further that cotton farmers no longer need to export their produce as local textile industries can consume all the cash crop. “Domestically produced cotton can be processed for local industries; there is no need to export it. I urge farmers to produce adequate cotton to cater for the domestic market,” he explained. Earlier, the PM visited Lake Cement manufacturing plant which produces the construction material under the Nyati brand and hailed the investors for heeding to President John Magufuli’s industrialization agenda. The cement factory produces 700,000 tonnes of cement per annum and has a workforce of 2,000 people. According to an official with the company, the factory pays over 80bn/- in taxes every year. Mr Majaliwa urged the industry owners to give priority to surrounding communities in recruitment and pay them adequately as well as observing the deadlines for tax payments.