The inaugural Zimbabwe-China Tobacco Expo opened in Harare, bringing together stakeholders from Zimbabwe and China to discuss strategies for enhancing value addition and increasing earnings in the country’s tobacco sector.
Speaking as he exhibited at the Expo, Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka highlighted the government's commitment to eliminating the "hood" of poverty by 2030. He also addressed the opportunities and challenges facing Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry, noting that tobacco is a heavily regulated product requiring careful navigation of legislation when seeking export markets. “Less than 1% of the tobacco produced in Zimbabwe is made into cigarettes,” he said, stressing the need to process more tobacco locally to retain value within the country.
Dr. Masuka outlined plans to engage with Chinese partners to install cigarette processing machinery in Zimbabwe, which would create jobs and boost local production. He emphasized China’s importance as Zimbabwe’s largest tobacco export market and a strategic partner in achieving production targets. “We have selected China to walk with us to ensure we can reach 500 million kilograms,” he said. Zimbabwe had initially targeted 300 million kilograms this year but exceeded expectations, producing 350 million kilograms, largely due to the involvement of young farmers.
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The minister further highlighted that value addition remains a key challenge. Since domestic tobacco consumption is minimal, expanding local processing requires strong export markets and reliable partners. By collaborating with Chinese firms, Zimbabwe aims to grow processing capacity, diversify tobacco products, and enhance revenue from the crop.
The Expo also serves as a platform for showcasing Zimbabwean tobacco, exchanging expertise, and forging international partnerships. Chinese companies are demonstrating advanced agricultural equipment and tobacco-curing technologies that could improve efficiency and sustainability for local farmers.
Dr. Masuka concluded that strengthening collaboration with China and promoting local value addition will not only increase earnings but support the broader goal of eliminating poverty by 2030. The Zimbabwe-China Tobacco Expo marks a significant step toward a more sustainable and profitable future for the country’s tobacco industry.
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