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TIMB stops contracting tobacco floor's operations
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Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has ordered Bindura contract floor to stop operations in Mvurwi after the local council gave them a community (Suwoguru) beer hall to temporally put their auction floor.
Investigations by Bulawayo24.com proved that the auction floor did not follow proper processes required by TIMB to operate.
It is further alleged that TIMB investigated the matter after a resident sent a complain to them on the location of the beer hall which is in high density suburb and near a primary school.
Contacted for comment TIMB spokesperson Chilesani Tsarwe confirmed the case.
The first stage of licensing contractors involves applicants providing all the set administrative requirements. If a contractor is compliant with these, the second stage is to have their proposed contract buying floor inspected by TIMB officials to determine suitability of the premises and their location. TIMB position is that tobacco buying floors must be established in industrial areas to prevent hazards to citizens and disruption of social activities. This case has been investigated, and we discovered the arrangement was not granted prior authorisation by TIMB and we have since formally advised the contractor to cease work on the premises and identify an alternative facility in a suitable and approved location.TIMB strongly advocates for indulgence in responsible environmental, social and governance practices. We have since responded to the resident who lodged the complaint and assured him the Board is addressing the case," Tsarwe said.
Meanwhile, Mvurwi Town Council chairperson Tonderai Samhu said council needs revenue and the bar has been idle for years hence they give priority to those who want to make use of it and generate revenue for council.
"For council to run we need revenue and we cannot keep on losing revenue when we have potential investors, so us giving Bindura Tobacco the bar to rent was a way of generating revenue," Samhu said.
Bindura Tobacco spokesperson Sonny Homu could neither confirm nor deny the case saying he was in a meeting and would revert but never did up to the time of this writing.
Tobacco auction floors will open on March 5, followed by contract sales the next day.
Housing about ten tobacco floors Mvurwi is one of the largest tobacco growing hubs in the country.
Investigations by Bulawayo24.com proved that the auction floor did not follow proper processes required by TIMB to operate.
It is further alleged that TIMB investigated the matter after a resident sent a complain to them on the location of the beer hall which is in high density suburb and near a primary school.
Contacted for comment TIMB spokesperson Chilesani Tsarwe confirmed the case.
The first stage of licensing contractors involves applicants providing all the set administrative requirements. If a contractor is compliant with these, the second stage is to have their proposed contract buying floor inspected by TIMB officials to determine suitability of the premises and their location. TIMB position is that tobacco buying floors must be established in industrial areas to prevent hazards to citizens and disruption of social activities. This case has been investigated, and we discovered the arrangement was not granted prior authorisation by TIMB and we have since formally advised the contractor to cease work on the premises and identify an alternative facility in a suitable and approved location.TIMB strongly advocates for indulgence in responsible environmental, social and governance practices. We have since responded to the resident who lodged the complaint and assured him the Board is addressing the case," Tsarwe said.
"For council to run we need revenue and we cannot keep on losing revenue when we have potential investors, so us giving Bindura Tobacco the bar to rent was a way of generating revenue," Samhu said.
Bindura Tobacco spokesperson Sonny Homu could neither confirm nor deny the case saying he was in a meeting and would revert but never did up to the time of this writing.
Tobacco auction floors will open on March 5, followed by contract sales the next day.
Housing about ten tobacco floors Mvurwi is one of the largest tobacco growing hubs in the country.
Source - Byo24news
