BY MBONGENI NDLELA
NHLANGANO – The road to Nhlangano has been humming with new energy.
Behind the rolling hills of Jabulani, just outside the town, steel, concrete, and ambition have been rising into what is now one of Eswatini’s most anticipated industrial additions: Jonsson Workwear’s new manufacturing plant.
Today, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, met with Jonsson Workwear’s Head of Manufacturing, Marnie Gerber, for a progress briefing on the project. The update confirmed what communities have been eagerly waiting to hear: construction is now almost 100% complete, with final finishing work underway ahead of full operational readiness.
The facility is a 20 000-square-metre factory shell, built alongside supporting auxiliary structures, designed to anchor long-term manufacturing in the Shiselweni corridor. This milestone strengthens Eswatini’s national goal of expanding industrial development and creating meaningful employment opportunities.
The project has already provided jobs during construction, with over 200 emaSwati employed during the building phase. Once fully operational, the factory is expected to employ more than 3 000 people, making it one of the largest private-sector job creators in the country.
Beyond direct employment, the plant is poised to stimulate local economic activity through increased demand for support services, benefiting transport operators, retailers, food suppliers and other small businesses in the surrounding areas.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade applauded the substantial investment by Jonsson Workwear and reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting a smooth launch of operations that will deliver long-term benefits for Eswatini’s economy.
