In a major step toward enhancing transparency in Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has introduced a biometric registration system to curb side marketing and fraud.
The new system, set to be implemented in the 2025 selling season, will require all farmers to undergo fingerprint recognition verification before selling their crop. This is expected to tighten security, eliminate identity fraud, and ensure only legitimate farmers access the market.
Agriculture Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos expressed confidence in the system after inspecting its integration with TIMB.
“We’re very satisfied with what we’ve seen. The biometric system is a step forward in protecting farmers and the industry from unfair trading practices,” he said.
TIMB Chairman Patrick Devenish emphasized that the move will help safeguard market access.
“The whole purpose is to stop side marketing and keep the criminal element out,” he said. “We want only legitimate farmers to bring their tobacco to the market.”
Authorities are also considering incorporating facial recognition in future updates, further strengthening security.
The introduction of biometric technology aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader goal of improving efficiency and transparency in its tobacco industry, which remains a critical foreign currency earner. In 2021, tobacco exports contributed $1.2 billion, with China purchasing the bulk of the country’s premium flue-cured leaf.
With this new system, industry players hope to minimize revenue losses and reinforce Zimbabwe’s reputation as a reliable tobacco producer on the global market.
