TOBACCO farmers in Eastern Province have resolved to stage a protest against the government’s refusal to purchase their tobacco.
This decision follows alleged misinformation that the tobacco currently stored in trading sheds in Chipata was imported from Malawi, purportedly sourced by Zambian tobacco farmers.
The controversy began when senior government officials allegedly informed Vice-President Mutale Nalumango that the tobacco in the Chipata sheds was from Malawi. 
As a result, the government has halted purchases of tobacco from local farmers, citing the alleged misinformation.
This has left local tobacco farmers with no option but to protest against the government decision.
This is not the first time that farmers in Eastern Province have faced this problem.
During President Michael Sata’s administration, then Vice President Dr. Guy Scott was informed that Zambian farmers were importing tobacco from Malawi for resale to the Zambian government at inflated prices, a practice that the government claimed hindered the growth of tobacco farming in the country.
