The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has refuted a report claiming that it had banned Voedsel from contracting farmers this year allegedly over the company’s failure to pay farmers for the past two years.
According to a report by The Herald, Voedsel, which has buying facilities in various tobacco-growing regions including Rusape, Marondera and Karoi, was declared an “unsuitable player” by the TIMB.
The publication quoted a source as saying, “Voedsel won’t be participating this year because they owe huge amounts of money to tobacco growers.”
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, 08 November 2022, TIMB acting CEO Emmanuel Matsvaire said Voedsel remains operational. He said:
TIMB wishes to advise that Voedsel Tobacco is a tobacco merchant company involved in contract farming, buying and exporting of processed tobacco and is not a surrogate of any other local merchant.
They have a valid contract and Class A licenses which permit them to participate in both contract and auction floor buying platforms for the 2022/2023 season.
Currently, Voedsel Tobacco is compliant with all TIMB regulations and has no pending issues before the Board.
Voedsel itself had released a statement earlier in the day advising stakeholders that it remained operational, contrary to reports. | The Herald