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TC warns tobacco vendors of stiffer punishment

Tobacco Commission (TC) is warning tobacco vendors and unregistered traders that they risk facing serious punishment as the country’s laws outlaw tobacco vending.

The warning comes as farmers are harvesting and packaging their tobacco in readiness for this year’s marketing season which traditionally commences in April.

Malunga: Tobacco vending is outlawed

According to the commission’s chief executive officer Joseph Chidanti Malunga over the past years tobacco marketing has been characterised with pockets of vendors who buy the leaf cheaply from farmers in need of fast cash but sell with higher profit margins at the auction floors.

“But the new Act was drafted to curtail the malpractice. The illegal vending is contrary to Section 67 (69) of the Tobacco Industry Act,” he said.

Malunga also said it is against the law to buy or sell tobacco outside the auction floors.

Last week, a court in Lilongwe convicted and sentenced four men to 20 months imprisonment with hard labour or in default pay K50 000 fine each for being found guilty of illegal vending of tobacco. The suspects pleaded guilty but managed to pay the fine of K50 000 each.

Malunga said: “The strong message we are sending to people is that if they want to buy or sell tobacco it’s through the auction floors.”

Tama Farmers Trust chief executive officer Nixon Lita said the conviction of vendors is a welcome development, and Tama hopes it will deter other would be vendors from the malpractice.

“Middlemen reap from tobacco growers’ sweat and encourage theft as tenants steal the leaf from growers. Again, vendors lack expertise so the tobacco they sell is poorly graded and presented on the market thus painting a bad picture of Malawi tobacco.

TC is yet to release this year’s first crop estimates as it prepares for the 2020/21 marketing season.

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