By Itai Mazire
The Tobbacco Marketing Industry Board (TIMB) in the previous 2024/25 tobacco season played a pivotal role in bolstering the economic growth and propelling the national vision of attaining an upper-middle income by 2030 amid revelations that over 100 000 grower pocketed at least USD 9 000 each.
TIMB Chief Executive Officer Mr Emmanuel Matsvaire said under the leadership President Emmerson Mnangagwa the sector ecperienced a record-breaking boom
“In 2025, the nation produced a record-breaking 355 million kilogrammes of tobacco, the highest in the country’s history, and farmers earned USD 1.2 billion, the first time ever that Zimbabwe’s growers have collectively earned over a billion dollars.
“On average, each of our 135,000 growers earned about USD 9 000, placing most of them in the upper middle-income bracket, fulfilling His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr E. D. Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, years ahead of schedule,” said Matsvaire.
He said these achievements are a direct result of government-led policy reforms and sector coordination under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP), which aligns with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
“TIMB has also spearheaded key initiatives that reinforce the nation’s independence and sustainability.
“Through local financing of tobacco production, which now covers 67 percent of seasonal requirements, reducing dependency on external financing.
“Another initiative is the promotion of value addition and beneficiation, increasing processing of tobacco locally from 2 to over 10 percent, including the establishment of Africa’s first nicotine extraction plant,” said Mr Matsvaire.
He said TIMB will continue playing a critical role in ensuring that the tobacco industry increases foreign currency earnings, rural development, and employment.
“Today, tobacco directly supports over 200 000 households and remains Zimbabwe’s largest agricultural export. TIMB remains committed to the President’s call for industrialisation, value addition, and sustainable economic growth.
“Working with all stakeholders, the Board continues to position Zimbabwe as Africa’s tobacco powerhouse and a global centre of excellence for sustainable tobacco production and trade,” added Mr Matsvaire.
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