Harare, Zimbabwe- The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has issued a high-priority directive to all tobacco growers nationwide, urging the immediate and thorough destruction of tobacco stalks following the 2025/26 harvest. The board emphasized that failure to properly clear fields poses a severe risk of pest carryover and disease outbreaks that could compromise the quality of the upcoming crop.

Zimbabwe’s tobacco auction floors will officially open to buyers on 4 March 2026, with authorities confirming that all farmers have been paid for last season’s deliveries. The announcement was made by Emmanuel Matsvaire, chief executive officer of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), while giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture.

Philip Morris International (PMI), the world’s largest tobacco company, is preparing to re‑establish a presence in Zimbabwe nearly two decades after exiting the regional market a development that could accelerate the country’s drive to add value to its tobacco crop.