THE Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers Association (ZPTFA), has accused a local tobacco dealer, Ace Agritrade Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, of clandestinely hiring its marketing license in January this year and pocketing $11 441 187 without remitting payment for the use of the license.
BY CHARLES LAITON
ZPTFA issued summons against Ace Agritrade on August 16, 2017 demanding payment of $228 823, 74, being a 2% hiring fee, and a return of the said marketing license which the firm is alleged to have refused to surrender back.
“Sometime in January 2017, the defendant (Ace Agritrade) unlawfully hired the plaintiff’s (ZPTFA) tobacco marketing licence without the knowledge and approval of the plaintiff’s board of trustees and used it to market tobacco in the 2017 season,” ZPTFA said in its declaration.
“The defendant managed to raise the sum of $11 441 187 from 4 084 600 kg of tobacco which they marketed during the said season. It is the plaintiff’s policy that if anyone intends to hire tobacco marketing licence they pay 02% of the gross earnings to the plaintiff upon the successful sale of the produce, and in this case it amounted to $228 823, 74.”
ZPTFA further said despite being notified of the position Ace Agritrade Solutions had “failed and/or refused to release the said license fees” prompting the association to approach the court for recourse.
“The defendant’s refusal to release the said license fees and their continued detention of the plaintiff’s tobacco marketing license is causing irreparable harm and prejudice to the plaintiff’s members,” the association said.
