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major refurbishment exercise.
The refurbishment has also eliminated congestion at Africa’s largest tobacco auction floor.
Boka, which has been leasing its premises to Zimbabwe Tobacco Action Floors for almost 10 years, cancelled its lease agreement because the former has been put into liquidation. Zitac was also in rental arrears.
The cancellation was in accordance with the lease agreement, which stated that if the lessor is placed into liquidation, the lesser shall be entitled to cancel the agreement.
At the time Boka took over, the premises needed touch- ups, prompting the firm to delay opening for the current marketing season.
The conveyor belt system has been completely overhauled and is now fitted with digital scales for accurate weighing of bales. The company has now built more toilets, repaired leaking roofs and drainage systems. In addition, five more septic tanks have been built to enhance the sewer reticulation system.
Tobacco farmers who spoke to the Herald Business said the quality of service and standards have significantly improved. Tobacco growers have been spending days at the auction floors without being served.
Recently, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board temporarily suspended new deliveries and bookings to clear the huge backlog at the auction floors.
Boka managing director Mr Matthew Boka said a lot of work has been completed and the company was now capable of handling huge volumes of the golden leaf.
“We have invested heavily in making sure the standards are restored,” he said.
He said from next week, the company would be able to sell at least 6 000 bales per day. This will be more than double what the company had been selling since it opened late last month.
“Most of the things have been replaced and all systems are now working properly. We still have a few touch-ups to make but farmers are happy with our service,” he added.
Mr Boka noted that the increase in tobacco farmers required a corresponding upgrade in infrastructure. Before the land reform programme, Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry was dominated by a few white commercial farmers.
However, the agrarian reform resulted in many black farmers turning to the production of the “golden leaf”, which was previous the preserve of white farmers.