British American Tobacco Zimbabwe is a company incorporated in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe and listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
BAT Zimbabwe manufactures and supplies cigarettes to approximately 6,600 retailers and wholesalers, who in turn service thousands of informal traders across the country. It is the leading tobacco manufacturer in Zimbabwe by market share. BAT Zimbabwe is part of the British American Tobacco Group of Companies (“BAT”) and has been operating in Zimbabwe for over 80 years.
Kenneth Gitonga is the current managing director for BAT Zimbabwe, having been the MD since March 26, 2024.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Marketing), a Master of Science in Organisational Development & Management, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration.
Mr Gitonga re-joined BAT Kenya in April 2017, having initially joined the Company in 2011 as a Brand Manager for the then BAT East and Central Africa Markets Cluster. Mr Gitonga has held various senior roles within BAT, including Trade Marketing Manager for the Americas and Sub-Sahara Africa region and, subsequently, International Brand Manager for the Modern Oral Nicotine portfolio, based at the BAT Group office in the UK. He also served as Head of Activations for the East Southern Africa Area, based in South Africa, and his immediate former role was Head of Commercial for BAT East and Southern Africa Markets, based in Kenya.
The company recently adopted a mutually-beneficial contract system which is reaping rich rewards: the entire crop is bought from the farmer at the end of the season in return for a supply of seed and fertiliser, and expert training by an agronomist on agricultural techniques.
Its parent company (BAT)’s portfolio comprises combustible tobacco products, such as cigarettes, alongside a range of non-combustible products. These include New Categories of potentially reduced-risk products, tobacco heating products, modern oral products, including tobacco-free nicotine pouches, and traditional oral products, such as snuffs and moist snuff.
The Group’s headquarters are in London, and it is listed on the London Stock Exchange. – Herald
