The Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe has awarded Emmanuel Matsvaire, Pro.Dir and Chief Executive Officer of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the esteemed title of Chief Executive Officer of the Year 2025. This recognition reflects his exceptional leadership and the remarkable transformation achieved under his stewardship, as TIMB continues to deliver record-breaking milestones and sustainable growth.
Matsvaire’s tenure has been marked by historic accomplishments that have reshaped the tobacco industry. In 2025, Zimbabwe reached a record 354.9 million kilograms of tobacco production, the highest in its history. At the same time, TIMB successfully hosted the country’s first-ever World Tobacco Africa Expo, an event that positioned Zimbabwe as a leading voice in global market development and created new avenues for international trade.
Beyond production, Matsvaire has driven bold strategies to enhance value addition, which rose from 2 percent to 10.15 percent during his leadership. Central to this achievement was the establishment of Africa’s first nicotine extraction plant, a groundbreaking development that elevates Zimbabwe’s role in global tobacco processing. He has also advanced diversification, with alternative crops production rising by 16.5 percent, providing farmers with new sources of income and greater resilience.
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Equally transformative has been the growth in local financing, which surged by 67 percent, reducing reliance on foreign funding and building confidence in domestic financial systems. Alongside economic progress, Matsvaire has championed sustainability, spearheading innovations such as gas curing technologies, extensive afforestation programmes, and determined efforts to eradicate child labour within the value chain.
In celebrating his achievement, TIMB wrote on its official X page:
“Congratulations to our CEO, Mr. Emmanuel Matsvaire, Pro.Dir, on being awarded Chief Executive Officer of the Year 2025 by the Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe. Matsvaire has shown exceptional leadership, steering TIMB to record-breaking milestones and sustainable growth.”
The CEO of the Year award therefore stands as more than a personal accolade—it symbolizes the broad transformation unfolding within Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector. It reflects not only Matsvaire’s vision and strategic leadership but also his unwavering commitment to ensuring growth is inclusive, ethical, and future-focused.
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