New firm to buy 45 million kgs of tobacco leaves this season

Mkwawa Leaf Tobacco Limited, a new firm, is targeting to buy 45 million kilogrammes of tobacco leaves this season.

The firm strategy is to be close to the farmers’ communities through corporate social responsibility (CSR) where last week it donated 20.4m/- to two orphanage children centres and two prisons in Tabora.

Mkwawa Leaf apart from donations organised Iftar for three separate districts in the region.

Tabora Regional Commissioner Dr Batilda Burian said the government would cooperate with Mkwawa Leaf for developing the tobacco industry, which was previously facing many challenges.

“We will stand together to revive the crop value chain, including environmental preservation by ensuring that tobacco curing is not depleting natural forests,” she said during the Iftar in Tabora township.

She also thanked the company for the events as part of supporting the community as well as caring for the need.

Mkwawa Leaf’s General Manager Mr Matthew Kapnias said the support to people with special needs was specifically targeted during Ramadan.

“Our company is new in Tanzania, but apart from being new, we are the major buyer of tobacco and we are targeting to purchase 45 million kilogramme this season,” the newly appointed GM said.

He said the company would collaborate with the government in a tree planting programme to promote environmental conservation among the tobacco farming community as well fighting all forms of child labour in tobacco farms.

The Company Deputy Director, Mr Richard Sinatwa said the donated items included 3,000 kilogramme of rice, 50 bags of sugar, 20 buckets of cooking oil, 50 cartons of soap, 125 kilo of groundnuts, 400 dozens of razor blades, 115 mattresses, 280 bed sheets and 185 mosquito nets.

“These items were distributed to two prisons and two orphanage children centres one managed by Muslim and the other one with Christian Charity organisations,” he said.

The Tabora Regional Sheikh Ibrahim Mavumbi congratulated the company for supporting people with special needs.

The sheikh said this was the first time in the history of Tabora for a tobacco company to offer such support and host Iftar for them, despite having many tobacco-buying companies in the region for many years.

The acting Head of Uyui Prison Senior Superintendent of Prison Richard Malifedha and the Head of Tabora Remand Prison Senior Superintendent of Prison Ally Lupululu thanked the company for the goodwill, adding that the company was welcome to assist in other areas at the prison in the future.

The Head of Missionaries of Charity Mother Tereza Centre Sister Jenny Charenty thanked the company for the donation, adding that they have come to their rescue at the right time.

The Head of Igambilo Islamic Orphanage Centre Abdulhamid Willah also thanked the company for the donation saying the items would greatly help them with their daily needs at the orphanage.