Zimbabwe: 27 Firms Get Licences to Purchase Tobacco

Source from:  The Herald (Harare) April 14, 2006 April 14, 2006 04/17/2006

TWENTY-SEVEN companies have been given licences to purchase tobacco when the auction floors open on April 25, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) announced yesterday. Buyers are put into three categories -- A Class, B Class and contract . TIMB said yesterday 18 were licensed under A Class, which qualifies them to buy tobacco for export only. On the other hand, five companies were licensed as Class B which gives them the right to buy the golden leaf for speculative purposes. Six companies have also been authorised to purchase tobacco produced under contract. TIMB added that all three auction floors, namely Burley Marketers Zimbabwe, Tobacco Sales Floor and Zimbabwe International Tobacco Auction Centre, have been licensed to operate in 2006. About 52 million kg of the golden leaf are expected to go under the hammer during the 2006 tobacco selling season which runs until August 31. Enditem