State advised to create more tobacco markets

CHIEF Chanje of the Chewa has prodded Government to ensure more tobacco markets are created in Eastern Province and get more taxes for other development ventures.

The traditional leader said having only two tobacco markets in Chipata or indeed Eastern Province was not enough to cater for the farmers.

He said Mgubudu Market accommodates tobacco farmers from his chiefdom, Mkanda, Mshawa, Mafuta, Chinunda, and Mwasemphangwe.

In an interview with the Daily Nation on Sunday, Chief Chanje said the same market also accommodates marketeers who cover long distances which entailed high transport cost such as those from Lundazi, Miyombe and Chikomeni.

He said the move would propel more economic activities in the province and help improve people’s living standards.

“The government needs to uplift the tobacco industry by creating more tobacco markets which is in line with the Patriotic Front vision of bringing markets closer to the people. Having only two main tobacco markets in Chipata or Eastern Province is not enough to cater for the farmers,” he said.

The traditional leader expressed confidence that once more markets were created, they would help in the collection of tax which could be channelled to development activities such as the grading of roads, construction of hospitals and schools.

He observed that tobacco had grown well in many chiefdoms despite the dry spell experienced in some areas.