Philip Morris International (PMI), the world’s largest tobacco company, is set to re-establish its presence in Zimbabwe nearly two decades after exiting the local market, in a move seen as a major boost for the country’s tobacco value chain ambitions.
A high-powered delegation led by PMI’s chief corporate affairs officer, Christos Harpantidis, is expected in Zimbabwe on February 18, 2026. The visit follows diplomatic engagements between Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, and PMI leadership on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.
According to official correspondence dated February 11, 2026, key discussions during the visit will centre on value addition and beneficiation, with a focus on helping Zimbabwe develop infrastructure to process and manufacture tobacco products locally rather than exporting raw leaf.
The delegation is also expected to address sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, including ethical labour practices and environmental protection measures within the tobacco sector.
PMI’s planned return comes as Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry experiences significant growth, with planted hectarage for the 2025/2026 season reportedly up by 42 percent. The expansion aligns with the Government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, which seeks to grow the sector into a US$5 billion industry by shifting emphasis from raw exports to local manufacturing.
Zimbabwe, Africa’s top tobacco producer, has historically exported about 90 percent of its crop in raw form. Industry observers say the re-entry of a global player such as PMI signals renewed international confidence and could integrate local producers into one of the world’s largest tobacco supply chains.
PMI previously shut its Southern Africa office in 1981 amid sanctions linked to the apartheid era. In its absence, British American Tobacco South Africa held exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute and sell PMI brands in Zimbabwe and other regional markets.
Globally, PMI markets more than 130 cigarette brands, including Marlboro, L&M and Chesterfield, and has in recent years invested heavily in smoke-free alternatives such as the IQOS heated tobacco system and ZYN nicotine pouches.
The upcoming visit is expected to clarify the scope and scale of PMI’s renewed footprint in Zimbabwe’s evolving tobacco landscape.
Source – The Herald
