Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
THE inaugural Joint Illegal Tobacco Varieties Indaba is underway in Harare today, with the Government using the platform to launch a renewed crackdown on the cultivation of illegal tobacco varieties, warning that growers found planting unregistered seed risk losing their entire crop.
The indaba, jointly hosted by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) and Kutsaga Research, has brought together key stakeholders from across the tobacco value chain to strengthen enforcement against illegal tobacco varieties and safeguard Zimbabwe’s premium tobacco export market.
Officially opening the indaba on behalf of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri, Chief Director for Agricultural Research, Innovation and Specialist Services, Dr Dumisani Kutywayo, described the deliberate introduction of illegal tobacco varieties into Zimbabwe as “economic sabotage”.
“Those who deliberately introduce illegal tobacco varieties into Zimbabwe are engaging in economic sabotage, and the Government will not tolerate that,” he said.
Dr Kutywayo said the proliferation of unregistered tobacco varieties was threatening Zimbabwe’s hard-earned reputation as a producer of premium tobacco by undermining product quality, traceability and buyer confidence.
He said international markets increasingly demanded full visibility of the tobacco supply chain, making compliance with approved seed systems critical for maintaining access to premium export markets.
“International markets increasingly demand full visibility of the tobacco supply chain, from the seeds planted in the seedbed to the cigarettes reaching consumers. This is no longer optional,” he said.
He said Kutsaga Research remained the country’s only authorised producer of certified tobacco seed, with every registered variety having undergone years of scientific evaluation to ensure it is suited to Zimbabwean growing conditions and meets international market requirements.
“There is, therefore, no justification whatsoever for using unregistered seed. Local is trusted. Local is tested. Local protects Zimbabwe,” said Dr Kutywayo.
He said Government’s focus was now on enforcing existing legislation rather than introducing new laws.
“The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Act clearly provides that tobacco grown from unregistered varieties is illegal and must be destroyed,” he said.
“Our responsibility is therefore not to create new legislation. It is to enforce existing legislation decisively, consistently and without exception,” he said.
Dr Kutywayo told delegates that authorities had already demonstrated their resolve last season, when several growers in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central were convicted after DNA testing confirmed they had cultivated an illegal tobacco variety commonly known as Kambambaira.
He said one farmer in Marondera was fined US$10 000 and had the entire crop destroyed after being found guilty of cultivating the prohibited variety.
“That should serve as a warning to every tobacco grower in Zimbabwe. Growing illegal tobacco varieties carries enormous consequences. The economic loss is total and beyond recovery,” he said.
The indaba is expected to develop a coordinated national enforcement framework involving TIMB, Kutsaga Research, Plant Quarantine Services, Seed Services, AGRITEX, the Ministry of Agriculture and law enforcement agencies, with stakeholders seeking to protect the integrity, quality and competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry ahead of the 2026/27 production season.
