CABINET has approved the Standard Bill to guide the development of voluntary standards in the protection of safety, health and the environment.
The Bill will pave the way for the creation of the Standard Institute of Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said: "The Bill will create the Standards Institute of Zimbabwe, whose main mandate will be to develop, publish and promote voluntary standards and quality assurance in industry and commerce.
"The Bill will provide for the establishment of Provincial Standards Committees which will be entrusted with supervision, administration and financial management functions in the provinces"
Muswere added that the introduction of the Standards Law will help grow the country's exports through regulating the quality of goods and services under the consolidated African Continental Free Trade Area market.
"Furthermore, the framework of standards will be cascaded to all the country's provinces to support the rural industrialisation agenda through production of quality and competitive goods and services," he said.
Muswere also said the country earned US$897 million in 2023 tobacco sales compared to US$650 million in 2022.
"Out of this amount, tobacco purchases using local financing were US$61,4 million in 2022 and US$73,2 million in 2023. For the 2024 tobacco marketing season, the recorded intentions for local financing amount to US$81 million.
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"The nation is informed that there are opportunities to increase the level of value addition and beneficiation of tobacco into cut rag and production cigarettes, from 2% of total tobacco produced to 30%.
"Currently, 7 cigarette manufacturers operate in Zimbabwe, with a combined production capacity of around five billion cigarette sticks per annum. An additional cigarette manufacturing plant is under construction, with a current production of 1,6 billion sticks per year. The plant will increase capacity by 50% in the first half of 2024," he added.
