Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector has received a major boost following the completion of a multi-million-dollar manufacturing plant in Harare, set up by Indian company African Extracts.
The facility, the first of its kind in Africa, will convert tobacco waste into nicotine and organic fertilizer, marking a significant step in value addition and industrialization. During a visit to the plant on Thursday, officials from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) and African Extracts confirmed that operations would commence once tobacco residues start arriving.
African Extracts CEO, Mr. Sunny Sethi, noted that similar plants exist only in India and China, making this investment a game-changer for Africa. The extracted nicotine will be utilized in medicine and pesticide production, with a ready export market.
TIMB Acting CEO, Emmanuel Matsvaire, described the investment as a milestone in the government’s push to add value to tobacco, turning what was previously waste into economic opportunity.
Beyond boosting exports, the project is expected to create jobs and support Zimbabwe’s broader industrialization agenda, reinforcing the country’s position in the global tobacco value chain.
