HARARE – Eight companies have been suspended by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board over failure to remit stop order deductions.
The suspended contractors are Voedsel Tobacco International, Agritrade Leaf Tobacco, Chevron Leaf Tobacco, Munakiri Leaf Tobacco, Bindura Leaf Tobacco, Mbaluk Tobacco, Huruyadzo Farming and Sub Sahara Tobacco.
TIMB communications manager Chelesani Moyo yesterday told the Herald that TIMB had suspended eight companies from operating.
“The fact that these companies have been failing to remit stop order deductions and pay farmers within the stipulated two days means they have financial constraints. TIMB is protecting the farmer and if the problem persists for over one week, TIMB will look for alternative markets for the affected growers.
“Suspension does not mean cancelled for now. It means do what you are supposed to do or comply with what your license was suspended for within a specified time frame or risk having your license cancelled for good,” she said.
“As TIMB works towards encouraging best practices with strict adherence to the law, the board requires all stakeholders in the industry to adhere to set regulations as non-compliance will be rewarded with stiff penalties. Let us all work together to bring sanity to the marketing of Zimbabwean flavour tobacco,” Moyo said.
The 2022 tobacco marketing season opened end of March with farmers expected to get viable prices due to the low volumes and high demand.
The highest price paid by buyers so far is US$6, 80 per kilogramme compared to US$6,70 during the same period last year.
