During the opening of this year’s tobacco market, the Tobacco Commission (TC) and the Ministry of Agriculture implemented a limit on the number of people on auction floors, as preventative measures against the coronavirus pandemic. TC Chief Executive Officer, Kayisi Sadala, said that the commission is considering the review of the measures.

The above follows after farmers took the commission to High Court, seeing that it was not fair that their tobacco was being sold in their absence, not to mention the new Tobacco Act which the farmers find exploitative.

While assuring the farmers of utmost transparency in their absence, Sadala said the commission is in discussion with stakeholders considering the review of restrictions on the floors.

The coronavirus pandemic affected this year’s tobacco market, such that the State President did not open the market as per custom. On the other hand, the lockdown in Zimbabwe has deprived a tobacco buyer named Voedsel Tobacco Company, from coming to the green gold market in Malawi. Though the prices and sales registered in the first month are better than last year’s first month, Sadala outlined that there would have been better figures if it was not for the coronavirus pandemic.