The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West, Marian Chombo, yesterday toured tobacco sales floors in Karoi to assess progress in the 2026 tobacco marketing season.
Chombo visited the auction and contract floors where she interacted with growers, merchants and regulators, saying the tour was meant to appreciate the pace of deliveries and hear first-hand the concerns of farmers at the marketing stage.
“This visit is part of Government’s ongoing efforts to monitor the tobacco marketing season on the ground and to ensure that farmers in Mashonaland West are fully supported.
Tobacco remains a key pillar of our agricultural economy, and it is important that marketing processes run smoothly so that growers benefit from their hard work,” she said.
In a statement, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said the 2026 season had started on a steady note, with deliveries increasing daily as more farmers complete curing and grading of their crop.
“The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board remains committed to ensuring that growers receive fair value for their crop. We have strengthened monitoring mechanisms at all marketing floors to promote transparency, efficiency and compliance with regulations,” TIMB said.
The board added that the regulator was working closely with merchants, contractors and farmer representatives to ensure that payments are processed on time and that no producer is prejudiced during the marketing process.
“We are satisfied with the orderly marketing environment that we are witnessing so far. TIMB continues to engage all stakeholders to make sure that the marketing season progresses without disruptions and that farmers have confidence in the system,” the board added.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry is one of the country’s top foreign currency earners, with Mashonaland West among the leading producing provinces, and Government continues to prioritise support for growers to sustain production and improve earnings for farmers and the national economy.
