Trouble For Dunlop Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s only tyre manufacturer, Dunlop Zimbabwe, is at the centre of a political row. A member of the ruling Zanu PF party visited the company after reports on the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation alleged that Dunlop was closing down as part of a plan by white-owned businesses to stir up unrest against the government. This has been refuted by a source close to Dunlop, which says that the company is suffering because of Zimbabwe’s shortage of foreign currency and government controls over tyre prices, but there are no plans to close down.

The company, which employs around 800 staff, imports 90 per cent of raw materials needed to make tyres and wants to raise tyre prices. It has already suspended credit sales to customers in order to minimise losses..