eBusiness Weekly
Business Writer
Tobacco companies operating in Hurungwe should fulfil corporate social responsibility programmes they pledged through supporting activities that uplift communities’ standards.Magunje legislator Cecil Kashiri revealed this while addressing a stakeholders meeting convened by the Hurungwe Rural District Council recently. Kashiri said tobacco companies must realise the damage their operations were causing on the communities.
The meeting sought to familiarise tobacco companies, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, councillors and legislators with council’s newly adopted tobacco contracting and growing by-laws.
“It is disheartening to note that some companies do not bother even about the damage tobacco growing is causing to the area, particularly deforestation and land degradation.
“The companies need to assist the communities because no matter how small the donation could be, in a way they would have assisted in a big way.
“Even a donation of paracetamol tablets to one of the clinics around will make a difference. Remember also that the health of the tobacco farmers you are using is sometimes compromised by the hazardous tobacco chemicals.”
He said the companies’ activities were also affecting the roads in the district. The roads are left in a bad state and it would be very unfair if you don’t chip in towards road maintenance. It is our collective responsibility,” he said.
The proposed tobacco contracting and growing by-laws came as a result of indiscriminate cutting down of trees in the area for tobacco curing.
Authorities in the area have accused the tobacco companies of doing little to arrest the deforestation.
Hurungwe RDC accuses tobacco merchants have of engaging tobacco farmers without providing sustainable means of curing the golden leaf.
Under the proposed regulations no contractor shall engage a tobacco grower or operate in the council area without a valid Memorandum of Understanding with council.
No farmer shall also grow flue-cured tobacco in the area without proving to council that they are legally settled as provided for by a settlement permit, offer letter or title deed.
Over and above, the farmer is also expected to have a woodlot or alternative form of fuel to support curing of their intended hectarage.
According to the proposed by-laws, no farmer shall be allowed to cure their tobacco in the area unless they have a licence issued by council or other licensing authority in the district after inspection of the woodlot by council, Forestry Commission or Agritex officers responsible for the area.
No one shall also be allowed to obtain a grower’s number without an authorising letter from council verifying ownership of land while destruction of tobacco stalks shall also be expected to be completed by May 15 every year.
In terms of tobacco transportation, every tobacco transporter shall be expected to register with Hurungwe RDC before undertaking any tobacco transportation for hire, within or to out-of –the- district markets without a licence from council.
The proposed regulations which came in the wake of failure by both tobacco merchants and farmers to observe council guidelines in terms of conserving natural resources and the environment are meant to create a win-win situation between HRDC and the tobacco companies.
