Online Reporter
Business Reporter
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has granted Ethical Leaf Tobacco (ELT) a licence to operate an auction floor starting this upcoming marketing season, marking a significant milestone for Zimbabwe’s indigenisation drive in the sector.
Operating as Ethical Sales Floor (ESF) and located at 105 Dartford Close, Willowvale in Harare, the facility becomes the country’s third active auction floor, joining the ranks of the established operators; Tobacco Sales Floor and Premier Tobacco Auction Floor.
This comes at a critical time for the industry.
According to TIMB, total planted area reached 113 536 hectares by mid-December 2025, a 21,7 percent increase from the previous year.
Notably, 15 percent of growers are self-financed, a statistic that industry experts describe as a “spark of hope” for the survival of the traditional auction system.
The licensing of ELT represents a breakthrough for local players, echoing the legacy of the late visionary businessman, Mr Roger Boka.
Mr Boka famously constructed one of the world’s largest tobacco auction floors to empower indigenous farmers and dismantle the historical white dominance that had long characterised the industry.
The newly licensed Ethical Sales Floor boasts a massive operational capacity, equipped to handle a throughput of more than 7 000 tobacco bales per day.
In a confirmation letter to ESF, TIMB chief executive Mr Emmanuel Matsvaire outlined the terms of the approval under Section 39 of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Act.
“I am pleased to advise you that the board… approved your application,” Mr Matsvaire said.
“Your auction floor licence is issued subject to the observance of rules and regulations issued by the TIMB, including the requirement for the floor to be linked to an approved information processing system.”
Mr Matsvaire emphasised that the licence is contingent on strict adherence to regulations. Any contravention of these rules could lead to the immediate suspension or cancellation of operating rights.
A spokesperson for Ethical Sales Floor said in an interview that the new floor will be underpinned by cutting-edge technology, designed to drive operational efficiency and provide unparalleled convenience for farmers.
“We are not just opening a new floor; we are launching a tech-driven ecosystem. By integrating advanced information processing, we are setting a new standard for how indigenous players can lead the modernisation of Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry,” the spokesperson said.
