Mulungushi Textiles Nears Reopening After US$ 140 Million Upgrade
Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, has announced that final preparations are underway to bring Mulungushi Textiles Limited in Kabwe back into operation, following a US$ 140 million investment in new machinery.
The minister said the government, in collaboration with Mulungushi Textiles management, has procured and installed brand-new equipment, while outdated machinery currently on the premises will be auctioned off. He added that test runs will be conducted to confirm technical readiness ahead of the plant’s formal reopening.
According to Mulenga, the facility is expected to resume operations once remaining technical and logistical issues are resolved. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to create between 400 and 500 direct jobs, in addition to generating significant indirect employment across the cotton and textile value chain.
The minister explained that the plant’s reopening, initially scheduled for 23 December 2025, was delayed due to insufficient cotton supply. To address this, approximately 3,000 cotton farmers have been contracted to supply raw material to the mill.
Mulenga noted that the initial cotton harvest has been encouraging, but emphasized that additional crops will be required to build adequate stock levels ahead of full-scale production.
