Chasefu independent aspiring parliamentary candidate Captain Towani Chipeta has called on the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) to put the interests of farmers first as it prepares to release price matrices for the 2025/2026 tobacco marketing season in the coming days.
She said growers invest heavily in producing quality tobacco and deserve fair compensation that reflects their costs and efforts.
Chipeta stressed that TBZ must ensure buyers’ price submissions meet production thresholds, warning that anything below this level risks disadvantaging farmers.
She added that transparent and fair pricing would not only safeguard farmers’ livelihoods but also strengthen Zambia’s tobacco industry.
Chipeta’s remarks come as TBZ reviews price matrices submitted by licensed buyers, with the approved prices expected to be displayed on all sales floors before the season begins.