Published: 10 May 2025

Stakeholders in Zimbabwe's tobacco industry have expressed optimism about the ongoing collaboration between the Zimbabwean tobacco sector and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) of the Philippines. The Philippines' tobacco regulatory body is currently in Zimbabwe for discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation and sharing expertise to enhance the tobacco value chain.

This agreement is seen as a crucial step in Zimbabwe's multi-million-dollar agro-economic stimulus plan, which seeks to add value to the country's tobacco industry and boost the broader economy. George Seremwe, president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTA), emphasized the significance of this collaboration for local farmers, noting that cross-pollination of ideas between the two countries would help enhance value addition in Zimbabwe's tobacco production.

"We are grateful for such exciting exchanges of ideas," Seremwe said. "This is a great development for the sector, as it not only boosts value addition but also opens up opportunities for Zimbabwean farmers to tap into the large tobacco market in the Philippines, which is a significant consumer of tobacco."

Seremwe added that the partnership could result in Zimbabwean tobacco entering the Philippine market, which would help address production demands and lead to increased prices for local producers. "This partnership offers a positive outlook for Zimbabwe's tobacco industry," he concluded.

Chelesani Tsarwe, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board's (TIMB) public affairs officer, echoed these sentiments, noting that the collaboration with the Philippines would greatly benefit Zimbabwe by helping to strengthen the sector's value chain.

"The visit marks an important step in strengthening the relationship between the two nations, both striving to grow sustainably and manage tobacco industries effectively," Tsarwe said. "Zimbabwe stands to benefit from the Philippines' advanced tobacco processing model."

Currently, over 98% of Zimbabwe's tobacco is exported in raw form with minimal local processing. Tsarwe highlighted that learning from a model that processes over 46 billion cigarettes annually in the Philippines presents a unique opportunity to boost local processing efforts.

"This partnership will help us explore alternative curing methods like the use of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and develop solutions for local processing. Moreover, it presents an opportunity to explore the use of fast-maturing crops like giant timber bamboo, which can help alleviate deforestation issues in tobacco farming," she added.

Zimbabwe's tobacco industry is currently on an upward trajectory, with projections indicating a 300 million kg tobacco harvest for the 2024/25 season. The country remains the largest producer of tobacco in Africa, with its tobacco exports reaching a value of US$1.3 billion in 2024.

The government, through the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, is working to convert Zimbabwe's tobacco industry into a US$5 billion sector by promoting value addition, improving infrastructure, and increasing domestic funding.

Musi Muzite, acting executive secretary of the National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF), stressed that this partnership aligns well with the country's strategic push for agricultural value addition. "By leveraging the Philippines' expertise in tobacco processing, we can unlock greater value across the tobacco chain," Muzite said.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu also underscored the strategic importance of the collaboration, stating, "The Philippines bring world-class expertise in tobacco processing. Zimbabwe stands to gain immensely from this cooperation, which will help fill gaps in our value chain and improve economic returns from our number one export crop."

Robert Ambrose, regulatory manager for the NTA, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the complementary strengths between the two nations. "Zimbabwe leads in raw tobacco production, while the Philippines has a comparative advantage in processing. Together, we can combine our strengths and create long-term mutually beneficial partnerships," Ambrose said.

Zimbabwe's efforts to shift from raw commodity exports to value-added production are in line with the country's Vision 2030 economic transformation agenda. The cooperation with the Philippines marks a significant step forward in this direction, paving the way for a more sustainable and profitable future for Zimbabwe's tobacco industry.
- newsday

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