The Tobacco Commission (TC) has announced that it is considering the introduction of e-ticketing of tobacco marketing to replace physical auctioning on the floors.

The move, according to TC chief executive officer Kayisi Sadala, to enhance transparency and fairness in the tobacco market. The resolution follows a month after Farmers are seeking the High Court for an injunction against the implementation of the Tobacco Industry Act, while also protesting the system of selling tobacco which was happening in the absence of the tobacco growers. While the system was amended weeks ago, Sadala told The Nation newspaper that the e-ticketing initiative will be useful especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sadala said under e-ticketing, sales take place in real-time without room for discussion and collusion among buyers, thereby reducing market distortions and bringing fairness. Last year, the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) announced an e-ticket solution where each ticket will be validated on entry into the stadium using hand-held scanners. According to a press release by FAM, the incentive is that all people who will buy the tickets in advance will buy them at much cheaper price than on match day and everyone who will buy the tickets will receive a complimentary bottle of Vital water on the day of the match using a special Vital water coupon.