Nqobizwe Thebe
Zimbabwe has recorded its highest-ever tobacco production, reaching 355 million kilograms in the 2024/25 season, as the government pledges to expand the sector despite mounting global pressure to phase out tobacco cultivation.
Speaking at the T5 Meeting in Harare on Wednesday, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon. Anxious Jongwe Masuka, said tobacco remains central to Zimbabwe’s economy and livelihoods, and called for developing nations to unite against policies that threaten their agricultural incomes.
“Generally, the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco (FCTC) and such other tobacco-focussed meetings aim to ban tobacco production, jeopardising the livelihoods of millions of developing country farmers and causing untold economic downturn and suffering, as some of the countries have very heavy dependency on tobacco for their income and foreign currency generation,” said Minister Masuka.
The T5 group — which includes major tobacco-producing countries — met in preparation for the Conference of Parties (COP11) and Meeting of Parties (MOP4) to the FCTC, set to begin in Geneva on November 17.
Masuka reported that all T5 nations had achieved volume and value growth in tobacco production this past summer season, with Zimbabwe’s record output translating to US$1.2 billion in earnings for its 135,000 growers, averaging US$9,000 per farmer.
“Zimbabwe achieved a record production of 355 million kilogrammes, the highest in history,” he said. “This growth trajectory is poised to continue under the Government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan.”
The government’s plan aims to boost annual production to 500 million kilograms by 2030, increase value addition to 100 million kilograms, localize 50% of crop financing, and enhance traceability and sustainability within the sector.
Masuka also revealed that Zimbabwe’s goal is to develop its tobacco industry into a US$7 billion market by 2030, noting that the crop contributes up to 10% of agricultural GDP and is exported to more than 60 destinations worldwide.
However, the minister acknowledged several challenges facing the sector, including the “WHO-led anti-smoking lobby,” stricter traceability requirements, environmental concerns from deforestation, child labour accusations, and outdated legislation.
He said the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan would tackle many of these issues locally, while the T5 coalition would coordinate responses to international policy pressures.
“Smoking is an adult choice. And for our economies, tobacco is a legal crop that should continue to be grown without any fear,” Min Masuka said.
The T5 meeting, attended by delegates from member countries and key industry stakeholders, comes as developing nations prepare to defend their tobacco sectors at the global stage in Geneva later this month.
