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Sikhulekelani Moyo, mskhulekelani16@gmail.com
MOTIVATED by a strong sense of national pride and a commitment to job creation, Dennis Jubane (49) has established a textile company in Bulawayo, leveraging the city’s historical industrial prowess.
Jubane, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur based in the United Kingdom and founder of Oakley Vale Garments (OVG), said the idea was to create something different, using some of the skills gained over the years in the diaspora.
“What really pushed me was the idea of entering this sector and offering an alternative to parents — quality, affordable school bags and uniforms. The gap was visible because the usual players were still there and still offering the same, yet there was such growth in the private school sector.
“When the Government issued a Statutory Instrument advising schools not to force parents to buy uniforms from a particular supplier that was a game changer for me as it meant parents could now shop for the best deal out there,” said Jubane
Jubane moved to England in 1996, and about 10 years after leaving Zimbabwe, he began to think about home and how he could return and explore opportunities in the information technology (IT) sector, one of his areas of expertise.
“My first visit was a complete disaster because the field I was in was almost non-existent in Zimbabwe due to the harsh economic climate at the time. Like most of us in the diaspora, I quickly started thinking about building back home and abandoned the idea of setting up a business.
“It was in 2017, almost two decades later, when I came back on my usual yearly visits to see family that I noticed an opportunity in the manufacturing sector. Most of the firms in Bulawayo had either shut down or relocated elsewhere. I took a chance by investing in two industrial bag-making machines bought from a company closing down its bag-making department,” he said.
Jubane explained that the name Oakley Vale Garments is very close to his heart as he lived in the Midlands in the United Kingdom in an area called Oakley Vale. He said that’s where most of his ideas originated, and it was fitting to use that name.
OVG produces all versions of school bags, such as satchels, sports bags, lunch bags, and library bags. They can also design bespoke bags for hockey, cricket, and tennis, among other things.
The company also offers summer and winter school uniforms via its brand Beez Uniforms. It supplies schools and retail outlets from its Bulawayo shop, and it also does embroidery and sublimation work, which is its new flagship department aiming to transform the way it prints not only in Bulawayo but Zimbabwe as a whole.
“We recently acquired high-end machines and software to start showcasing some of the amazing branding our team is capable of,” said Jubane.
OVG is now aiming for the export market after noticing an increase in inquiries from neighbouring countries. Jubane said they aim to partner with ZimTrade in the near future and attend some of the trade shows in the region to market themselves.
“We also aim to take part in the next Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in 2025. However, our immediate plan is to take our product around Zimbabwe by either partnering with major retailers in other cities or setting up a few branches in areas where we feel we can have an impact.”
Jubane noted that a common topic among Zimbabweans abroad is investing in their homeland and planning for retirement in Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe has its fair share of challenges, and it can be difficult to get things done, especially for us who live outside and experience so many alternatives. Despite these challenges, plenty of opportunities still exist for those with the heart to take risks, work hard, and create something amid all the difficulties.
“Take, for instance, the construction industry. Diasporans are building every day across the country, creating many jobs and opportunities for builders, plumbers, etc. As Zimbabweans outside, we play a pivotal role in keeping the economic engine running. Our investments back home give many young people job opportunities. It doesn’t matter what sector; any investment made benefits one or more people in that value chain,” said Jubane.
Jubane called on the Government to reduce the cost of doing business to attract more diaspora investments.
He also said the Government needs to help start-ups and small businesses by making it easy to register a company and reducing the number of licences needed to operate a small business, saying these should be affordable and done online.
“All these are barriers that frustrate potential diasporan investors and, in turn, lead them to take their money elsewhere. We love our country and want to help build it, but it will require engagement with the powers that be to address some of these challenges,” said Jubane.
@SikhulekelaniM1
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