Social Responsibility

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The TLEAZ encourages social responsibility through a culture of continuous collaboration, sharing of knowledge and experiences that are shaping our society and how this in turn relates to our members businesses. Considering rightsholders interests is a key component of how TLEAZ members operate to gain a social license within our communities as a testament of our social responsibility. This approach has culminated in the introduction of social minimum standards which guide the way we operate in a process where we identify, prioritise, remediate, monitor and report impacts both positive and negative.

The TLEAZ has made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe. Some of its key socio-economic efforts include:

  • Promoting sustainable tobacco production through social governance, minimum standards:
    All TLEAZ members have internal Agricultural Labour Practices codes (ALP) which have been combined to form an industry wide ALP code which guides the industry on human and labour rights observation in the tobacco industry. The seven core principles of the now Zimbabwe Agricultural Labour Practices Code (ZALP) in Tobacco are; No to Child and Forced Labour, Income and working Hours, Fair Treatment, Freedom of Association, Safe Working Environment and Compliance with the Law.
  • Supporting and empowering small-scale tobacco farmers:
    The TLEAZ members provides technical support to small-scale tobacco farmers through a variety of programs and initiatives. This includes providing access to training on growing tobacco, financial literacy, labour standards and support resources, as well as helping farmers to market their tobacco.
  • Supporting social development programs in rural communities:
    The TLEAZ and its members support a variety of social development programs in rural communities, including programs in the areas of education, healthcare, and water and sanitation. The association also supports programs that promote gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as youth development programs.
  • Creating jobs and generating income for rural communities:
    The tobacco industry is a major employer in Zimbabwe, and the TLEAZ members play a key role in creating employment and generating income for rural communities. The association's members are responsible for financing, buying and exporting most of Zimbabwe's tobacco, which generates significant foreign currency earnings for the country. Through these activities, they not only sustain thousands of livelihoods but also contribute to the nation’s tax revenue, supporting essential government services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.