By 
Following a record-breaking tobacco season, Zimbabwean authorities are accelerating efforts to implement a nationwide biometric registration system aimed at strengthening accountability, curbing side-marketing, and protecting legitimate growers.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has announced that biometric enrolment is now a cornerstone of its regulatory strategy, with rollout efforts intensifying across all major tobacco-producing regions. The initiative comes in the wake of the country’s highest-ever tobacco output—352 million kilogrammes—cementing Zimbabwe’s position as a leading global producer of the golden leaf.
TIMB chief executive Emmanuel Matsvaire said the Board has launched a series of outreach and education campaigns designed to integrate farmers into the biometric database while also promoting responsible production practices.
“These outreach programmes are not limited to biometric enrolment,” said Matsvaire.
“They also include training on climate-smart agriculture, ethical marketing practices, and awareness around the risks of side-marketing. These are being carried out in all tobacco-producing areas.”
To ensure widespread participation, especially in underserved communities, TIMB has deployed mobile registration teams to reach farmers in remote areas.
“We want to ensure inclusivity,” Matsvaire said.
“Growers who cannot easily access our provincial offices are being registered through mobile teams. At the same time, TIMB is running an awareness campaign across all media platforms to educate farmers on the importance of biometric registration.”
In a strategic move to strengthen the integrity of the contracting system, TIMB has also partnered with tobacco merchants and financing institutions. Biometric verification is now being positioned as a prerequisite for contract eligibility, access to loans, and receipt of input packages.
“By making biometric enrolment mandatory for these services, we’re ensuring that only genuine, registered farmers benefit from the system,” Matsvaire explained.
Industry players have welcomed the initiative, with farmer representatives emphasizing its role in improving transparency and ensuring compliance among contractors.
“We are also making follow-ups to ensure that contracting companies adhere to the TIMB compliance framework and our members are not short-changed,” said George Seremwe, president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association.
According to the latest TIMB production data, Mashonaland Central emerged as the top tobacco-producing province in the 2025 season, delivering 118 million kilogrammes, which accounted for 33.5% of national output. Mashonaland West followed with 104 million kilogrammes (29.6%), while Mashonaland East contributed 75 million kilogrammes (21.3%).
The biometric initiative is viewed as a critical step in formalising Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector and safeguarding its sustainability in the face of climate change, market pressures, and regulatory challenges.
As the sector continues to grow, stakeholders say data-driven oversight and strong identification systems will be essential in ensuring fairness, preventing abuse, and reinforcing Zimbabwe’s reputation as a reliable global supplier.
Comments