Myriad challenges are plaguing Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector and threatening its viability in spite of the fact that tobacco is one of the country’s top foreign currency earner.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture met tobacco merchants at Parliament Building in Harare recently, where the 2019 tobacco marketing season came under review.
The county’s parliament raised concern that local tobacco farmers might be suffering monetary losses from tobacco merchants who appear to be in collusion to shortchange the farmers.
The testimony given by tobacco merchants points to a system that is being abused to the detriment of the farmer and Zimbabwe in general, while those who expose the corruption are served with lawsuits.
However, committee chairperson, justice Mayor Wadyajena, indicated that whatever is said within parliament cannot be used against anyone, adding that Parliament will be taking the issue of those sued with responsible authorities.
The invited merchants could not offer satisfactory responses to the committee on several issues raised with regards to collusion and chief among them how they determine the quality and subsequent pricing of tobacco especially given low prices averaging US$1.85 in 2019 for the same tobacco which fetches high prices on the international market.
The committee adjourned proceedings as some top executives from the invited merchants especially Premier Tobacco Leaf were absent, but the committee promised to invite them soon.