TIMB tightens grip to seal tobacco marketing leakages

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has intensified efforts to plug leakages in the tobacco marketing system, strengthening regulatory and governance frameworks to curb side marketing and eliminate payment delays ahead of the 2026 selling season.

The regulator has finalised all necessary guidelines for the 2026 marketing season, which officially opens on March 4.

In a written response, TIMB chief executive Emmanuel Matsvaire said the board has engaged key stakeholders, licensed auction floors and contractors, and coordinated enforcement mechanisms with relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and orderly marketing period.

“TIMB has completed regulatory and governance preparation considerations to ensure the smooth running of the season. Strong monitoring tools of contract schemes will also be implemented,” Matsvaire said.

He added that strict adherence to payment timelines will be enforced to prevent the accumulation of overdue debts that have previously strained relationships between growers and contractors.

To strengthen oversight, TIMB has deployed inspectors at all selling points and rolled out a 100-day operational plan specifically targeting side marketing — a long-standing challenge in the sector.

“This season, there will be vigilant oversight to curb side marketing, alongside reinforced sustainability and traceability measures,” Matsvaire said.

“These measures underscore the industry’s commitment to orderly marketing and grower protection.”

For the 2025/26 production season, TIMB has licensed 48 contractors — comprising 47 flue-cured tobacco contractors and one shisha tobacco contractor — as well as 46 Class A buyers.

Three licensed auction floors will operate during the 2026 marketing season: Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF), Premier Tobacco Auction Floors (PTAF) and Ethical Sales Floor.

TIMB said all auction floors are compliant with key operational requirements, including adequate security systems, banking facilities, on-site clinics, functional IT infrastructure and backup utilities.

The number of decentralised selling points for the 2026 season will be announced a week before the opening of auction floors, as inspections are still underway.

Under the prevailing payment framework, growers will receive 70% of their proceeds in foreign currency and 30% in local currency.

Health safeguards will also remain in force, with cholera and Covid-19 prevention protocols to be enforced across all selling points to protect farmers, buyers and staff.

Official statistics show continued expansion in tobacco production, with the 2025/26 planted area increasing by 15% to 164,536 hectares — a signal of sustained farmer confidence in the crop despite broader economic headwinds.

Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Manicaland recorded significant growth in hectarage, reinforcing their position as key tobacco-producing provinces.

Matsvaire said output projections for the upcoming season remain strong.

“A projection of approximately 400 million kilogrammes is highly possible for the 2026 Zimbabwe tobacco industry, reinforcing the country’s status as one of the world’s leading flue-cured tobacco producers,” he said.

With expanded hectarage, improved oversight and tighter enforcement mechanisms, the outlook for both crop quality and volumes remains positive, setting the stage for what authorities hope will be a competitive, transparent and orderly marketing season.