Zimbabwe tobacco sales up 33%

(Southern Times) Zimbabawes' income from tobacco sales has jumped 33 percent since the marketing season started last month compared with a year earlier, as a rise in sales outweighs a drop in prices, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board said. The southern African nation has earned about US$12 million from sales of the leaf since Februry 16, up from US$9 million a year earlier, the board said in a statement. About 4.1 million kilograms (9 million pounds) of tobacco has been sold at an average price of $2.09 a kilogram, compared with 2.5 million kilograms at $3.06 per kilogram last year, it said. Continued