Zimbabwe, China Seal Tobacco Deal

Zimbabwe is deepening its partnership with China in a bid to transform its tobacco sector into a continental powerhouse, with plans to establish local cigarette manufacturing and boost value addition under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka, on Wednesday hosted senior representatives from the China Tobacco Company in Harare, outlining Zimbabwe’s vision for a “modern, sustainable, and value-driven” tobacco industry.

“China consumes half of Zimbabwe’s tobacco crop, and its partnership is critical as we seek to move from being a raw leaf exporter to a regional hub for processing and manufacturing,” Dr. Masuka said. “We want to see cigarette production right here in Zimbabwe, creating jobs, curbing illicit trade, and increasing value addition to 30 percent by 2030.”

 

Zimbabwe remains Africa’s largest producer of flue-cured tobacco, with the golden leaf sustaining over 135,000 smallholder and commercial farmers. However, most of the crop is exported in semi-processed form, limiting returns for both farmers and the economy.

China Tobacco executives welcomed Zimbabwe’s invitation to invest in local processing facilities, underscoring the country’s strategic position in regional trade.

“Zimbabwe produces some of the finest tobacco in the world. With AfCFTA opening markets across Africa, we see significant potential to expand cigarette manufacturing here and make Zimbabwe a regional export hub,” a China Tobacco representative said.

 

The meeting also focused on combating illicit trade, which has undermined farmer incomes and eroded tax revenues across the continent.

“Formalizing and strengthening trade through value addition is a win for farmers and for the country’s revenue base,” Dr. Masuka said.