Africa Implored To Reclaim The Cotton Value Chain

Post Business Reporter

Bulawayo-Africa should reclaim its textile value chain by boosting domestic cotton production, fabric manufacturing, and local garment designing, a top Buyer said.

Speaking at the recently concluded Buyers Week Summit, Procurement Sourcing and Compliance Manager for Pick n Pay Clothing (South Africa), Betty Thaba, argued that Africa’s textile and fashion sector is largely untapped, stressing the urgent need for a continental reset.

The week-long seminar brought together local exporters and international buyers representing countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East who visited the country for the 2025 Export Week.

This year`s event ran under the theme “Rooted Locally and Growing Globally”.

“Africa’s need to reclaim its textile value chain starting with boosting cotton production. Our cotton is grown in Africa, but then we ship it to Asia to turn it into fabric, yarn, garments and then we buy it back”.

“Why can’t we grow our cotton, make our yarn, produce our own fabric, manufacture locally and then sell goods proudly labelled ‘Made in Africa by Africans for Africans’?”

She highlighted that Pick n Pay Clothing already sources organically grown cotton and exploring regional partnerships to build more local capacity.

“For the brand, sustainability goes beyond being eco-conscious , it means keeping production, profits, and pride on the continent.

“Africa has the raw materials, the people, the talent. What we need is the belief that we can and must create value right here, for ourselves. We are not just here to transact. We are here to partner. We are here to build, ”Thaba said.

She said Africa should not be treated as a market to extract from, but as a place to invest in, collaborate with, and build alongside.

“We believe in shared goals and shared success. Let’s turn proximity into productivity. Let’s stop looking outside when we have everything we need right here. Africa can clothe Africa and the world , if we just connect the dots,” she explained.

Thaba said Pick n Pay Clothing sees itself as more than a buyer but a regional partner looking to work with local producers, creatives, and suppliers.

“This is not just about business. This is about identity. This is about African economic independence, “she said.

Thaba also said Zimbabwe is just one part of a larger strategy to build a continental supply network that empowers African countries to trade and produce collaboratively.

“We are not only looking at Zimbabwe. We are going around the continent, looking to invest and create networks. The goal is clear goods made in Africa, by Africans, for Africans,” she said.

Thaba argued that Africa has long been confined to the role of a raw material supplier, adding that it was now imperative for the continent to now become a producer of finished goods and global brands.

“Africa has been a supplier of raw materials for too long. It’s time we become suppliers of finished products, of brands, of stories, of identity. We believe in this continent and we are here to build something real,” she said.

Thaba expressed how impressed she was upon arriving in the country, where she met passionate and ambitiously driven people.

“From the moment I landed, I felt the passion of the people. That’s what makes you want to do business when you meet people who share ambitious goals. Zimbabwe gave me that,” she said.

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