The Tobacco Commission (TC) recently announced that it is considering the introduction of e-ticketing of tobacco marketing to replace physical auctioning on the floors. Moving forward, the AHL Tobacco Sales general manager Graham Kunimba told The Nation newspaper that the initiative will be launched towards the end of this year’s marketing season.

The Tobacco Commission (TC) chief executive officer Kayisi Sadala hailed the development as means to enhance transparency and fairness in the tobacco market. According to Kunimba, the initiative is being developed by IC–Tech Africa, a technology company within the AHL Group.

When launched, the e-marketing system will be used for both auction and contract sales. 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 said the e-ticketing initiative will be useful especially during the coronavirus pandemic.