Published: 7 hours ago

Quest Motor Manufacturing is set to receive its first batch of equipment next month to kick-start the production of about 180 vehicles, marking a major step in the Government's efforts to promote local manufacturing and reduce the country's import bill.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu announced the development during a tour of Mutare's manufacturing sector on Thursday, which included visits to Quest Motor Manufacturing, Wattle Company, and Mega Market.

Minister Ndlovu said the Government will, starting next month, compel ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to source goods locally where possible.

"We have seen impressive progress in terms of capacity utilisation in our industries. As a Government, we have a policy that prioritises local procurement. Although this has not been enforced rigorously before, all Government ministries and departments will now be required to prioritise locally produced goods," he said.
"This is the only way we can sustain jobs and build capacity to export to the region."

Quest Motor Manufacturing general manager, Mr. Carl Fernandes, confirmed that the company will begin vehicle assembly next month after receiving the first tranche of equipment.

"We expect our first parts to arrive in November following engagements with our Chinese partners. We will start with the JAC T9 double cab and move on to the Foton Tunland V9 pick-up in January 2026. Our initial target is to produce around 180 vehicles over the next few months, depending on demand," said Fernandes.

Established in 1961, Quest Motor is among Mutare's oldest industrial operations and has been partnering with Chinese automotive firms since the early 2010s.

"We were one of the first companies to embrace the Government's Look East Policy in 2011. Since then, we have expanded our partnerships with major Chinese brands. Chinese vehicles have made major inroads into the Zimbabwean and South African markets," Fernandes added.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr. Zhou Ding, welcomed the collaboration between Quest Motor and Foton, saying it reflects deepening industrial cooperation between China and Zimbabwe.

"We want to see more partnerships beyond mining, particularly in manufacturing and technology, to create value-chain jobs. Zimbabweans are hardworking, and with the implementation of Vision 2030, the economy will rebound," he said.

Minister Ndlovu also commended Mega Market and Wattle Company for their performance, noting that both firms were operating at or near full capacity.

"Mega Market's 100 percent capacity utilisation is impressive, while Wattle Company's value-addition initiatives, including plywood production, demonstrate commitment to industrial growth," said Ndlovu.

Wattle Company executive director, Mrs. Victoria Jakazi, said the firm's expansion into plywood production has increased timber extraction efficiency to around 70 percent.

"We no longer export pine sawn timber due to regional competition and limited resources. We now focus on the local market, employing about 2,000 people across our three divisions — Nyanga Pine, Vumba Timbers, and Chipinge-Chimanimani," Jakazi said.
"Our next target is to produce pulpwood from waste, which should take us to around 80 percent utilisation."

The Minister's tour highlighted renewed optimism within Zimbabwe's manufacturing sector as the Government continues to drive import substitution, local industrialisation, and private-sector partnerships.
- the herald