Zimbabwe faces new tobacco ban threat
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Zimbabwe is facing a fresh threat of a tobacco ban from the World Health Organization (WHO) amid accusations of child labour, perceived concentration risks in contract financing, low inclusivity at certain nodes of the value chain, and issues such as nesting and side marketing.
If imposed, the ban could deal a serious blow to the country’s foreign currency generation efforts.
Tobacco remains Zimbabwe’s fourth-largest foreign currency earner after gold, platinum, and diaspora remittances, generating approximately US$1.2 bn this year. The crop contributes up to 10% of agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is the country’s most widely exported product, reaching over 60 international markets.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka told delegates at the “T5 meeting”—a coalition of tobacco growers from Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—held in Harare recently, that the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and other tobacco-focused meetings aim to ban tobacco production. Such measures, he said, could jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of farmers in developing countries and trigger severe economic downturns, particularly in nations heavily dependent on tobacco for income and foreign currency.
“In Zimbabwe, the tobacco sector faces a few headwinds such as the WHO-led anti-smoking lobby; stricter traceability requirements; environmental concerns from deforestation, necessitating the use of low-emission production and curing systems; child labour accusations which must be demystified; perceived concentration risk of contract financing; low inclusivity at some nodes of the value chain; nesting and side marketing; and outdated legislation. This Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan will address many of the local challenges, while this meeting of T5 countries will address the international lobby challenges,” Dr. Masuka said.
He added, “Smoking is an adult choice, and for T5 economies, tobacco is a legal crop that should continue to be grown without any fear.”
Despite these looming threats, all T5 countries recorded remarkable growth in tobacco volumes and value during the past summer season. Zimbabwe achieved a record production of 355 million kilogrammes, the highest in the country’s history, earning farmers US$1.2 billion, with each of the 135,000 growers grossing an average of US$9,000.
This growth trajectory is expected to continue under the Government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, which aims to increase production to 500 million kilogrammes annually by 2030, applying factor production principles. For 2025/2026, Zimbabwe projects 360 million kilogrammes.
The Transformation Plan also targets value addition and beneficiation of 100 million kilogrammes of tobacco by 2030. Further objectives include localising financing for 50% of the crop and enhancing traceability and sustainability.
Dr. Masuka emphasised that policy, legislation, and institutional reforms, along with market development initiatives, are underway to ensure sustainable tobacco production. He also noted the importance of derisking production through the cultivation of alternate—not alternative—crops.
“Zimbabwe also aims to develop the tobacco market into a US$7 bn industry by 2030,” he said.
