dyton mupawaenda
Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board’s (TIMB) inspectorate department in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has raided an illegal tobacco trading hub in Harare.
Commenting on their Facebook page, TIMB said its inspectors and the ZRP raided an illegal tobacco trading hub in Southerton and Lochinvar recently, as part of efforts to bring transparency and order in the industry.
“We are cracking down on illegal tobacco activities, including side marketing, unlicenced trading and buying of self-funded or contract tobacco outside approved channels,” said TIMB.
TIMB said there was a high rate of tobacco robbery cases within Harare adding that such unlicenced re-handling sites were being used in re-packaging stolen bales by criminals. Some arrests have since been made under ZRP Southerton RRB 6374013
Meanwhile, in a related press statement, TIMB added that their efforts were meant to ensure a crime free tobacco industry.
“In a continued effort to maintain transparency and uphold the integrity of the tobacco industry, TIMB through its inspectorate department has since the commencement of the 2025 tobacco marketing season put in place a series of strategic initiatives aimed at eradicating criminal activities within the sector.
“Key initiatives being rolled out are enhanced monitoring and compliance, zero tolerance to bribery and unethical conduct and strengthening collaborations,” read the statement.
TIMB inspectors are in all tobacco growing regions monitoring tobacco marketing, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and watching out for illegal activities to prevent corruption.
The board has introduced severe penalties such as the revocation of licences and heavy fines to individuals or organisations found engaging in corrupt practices.
The board is bolstering collaborations with all stakeholders through information sharing, enhancing regulatory enforcement and tightening security measures across the tobacco value chain.
Other key initiatives the board has taken include increasing transparency in the process of granting licences with irregularities investigated thoroughly and promptly.
TIMB has also heightened measures to combat side marketing by using data analysis of sales, unannounced inspections of merchants and growers for compliance, awareness campaigns targeted at stakeholders, arresting and punishing offenders, blocking their operations, suspending licences and restricting the night time movement of tobacco.
“The board is committed to creating a tobacco industry that is free from corruption. This is essential not only for ensuring the industry’s success but for fostering a fair and transparent business environment also,” TIMB further explained.
Side marketing is a form of contract default where contracted farmers sell their tobacco to third parties in breach of the contractual agreement which states that tobacco shall only be sold to or bought by contractor who provided inputs to farmer.
Among the advantages of selling tobacco to the contractor who provided inputs are prompt payment, fair buying price as set by the TIMB price matrix, arbitration and help from TIMB in cases of complications and business continuity.
Side marketing has many disadvantages such as low prices, late payments or total default with no arbitration, loss of property to debt collectors, risk of arrest and imprisonment, blacklisting and barring of grower number.
The country is expecting over 280 million kilogrammes of the golden leaf this season, with some analysts still optimistic that the record 296 million kilogrammes produced in 2023 can be dwarfed come end of this marketing season.
Online Reporter