NEW: 125 arrested for side marketing tobacco

Sunday Mail Reporter

One hundred and twenty-five people have been arrested for side marketing tobacco since the marketing season began on March 30.

Statutory Instrument (SI) 77 of 2022 criminalises side marketing the cash crop, which is one of the country’s biggest foreign-currency earners.

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board public affairs officer Ms Chelesani Moyo confirmed the development.

“Since the new SI 77 of 2022 was put to effect, 125 people have been convicted for violating the regulations,” she said.

“TIMB has deployed inspectors in all tobacco-growing regions with a mandate to investigate all illegal activities in the industry.

“Whoever they find on the wrong side of the law is brought to book.”

Farmers, contractors and industry have been urged to comply with the regulations “that were put in place to promote orderly marketing of the crop”.

Side marketing is a form of contract default where a contracted farmer sells their crop to a third party in breach of a legally binding contractual agreement.

Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe president Mr George Seremwe said eliminating the practice could help lure more investors.

“I hope that this development will bring in more players who would want to invest in tobacco as they feel their returns are protected and guaranteed.

“We will see more competition amongst contracting companies, who will offer good prices for good-quality tobacco,” he said.

SI 77 of 2022 imposes a six-month custodial sentence with the option of a fine on those convicted of side marketing.

It reads in part: “Any person, whether a party to a scheme contract or not, who deals in or possesses tobacco in contravention of these regulations; that is to say purchases, receives, stores, sells, obtains, possesses, exports or otherwise disposes of such tobacco, or participates in side marketing in contravention of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five (5) or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six (6) months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”