Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati
The tobacco industry intends to establish collaborations with strategic partners, particularly China, to increase domestic value addition and beneficiation to optimise export earnings.
China is a major buyer of Zimbabwean tobacco, importing around 100 million kilogrammes annually.
This came out at the Zimbabwe-China Tobacco Expo 2025 Business Forum in Harare yesterday.
The expo is meant to connect Zimbabwean tobacco industry players with Chinese innovations that enhance productivity, promote sustainability and increase value addition.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chairman, Mr Patrick Devenish, said the country had the potential to significantly increase value addition to its tobacco products before exporting.
“Zimbabwe currently processes about 10,15 percent of its tobacco into cut tobacco, cigarettes, and other products. While this is an improvement from just 2 percent, a few years ago, it remains far below our potential.
“We want to ensure that the bulk of our leaf is processed locally to create jobs, enhance export earnings, and strengthen our industrial base,” he said.
Mr Devenish said there was a need to build joint ventures to increase beneficiation.
“We are here to engage our partners, particularly China, to collaborate with Zimbabwe in expanding value addition and beneficiation.
“China has the technology, capital, and experience, and Zimbabwe has the raw material, skilled farmers, and policy support. Together, we can build joint ventures in cigarette manufacturing, nicotine extraction, and even shisha and alternative tobacco product processing,” he said.
Asia-Europe and Africa Joint Trade and Investment Promotion Association chief executive Ms Lu Zhaofeng said Zimbabwe could benefit from the technologies in China, for instance, the manufacturing of fertilisers from the crop.
“We have the equipment and machinery and Zimbabwe can also implement what China is doing.
“China is Zimbabwe’s partner and the largest buyer of tobacco, with nearly half of Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports destined for China.
“This not only reflects China’s high recognition of the quality of Zimbabwean tobacco, but also the strong relationship with Zimbabwe.
“China and Zimbabwe have a strong relationship,” she said.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the expo presented opportunities for growing the tobacco sector sustainably.
China has successfully eliminated the use of wood in curing tobacco, an innovation Zimbabwe seeks to adopt to reduce deforestation and operational costs for growers.
“We want to use environmentally friendly methods of curing and we should eliminate the use of firewood by 2030.
“We should also promote the use of environmentally friendly chemicals in the production of tobacco.” he said.
He commended China for being a major buyer of Zimbabwean tobacco, adding that there was a need to expand production and secure more lucrative markets.
“This exhibition should provide us with opportunities to network and cast our eyes into the future of what becomes of our relationship with China, which was solidified by His Excellency President Mnangagwa’s visit to China
Mathew Masinge