Tobacco Research Act

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tobacco Research Act [Chapter 18:21].

2. Interpretation

In this Act—“Board” means the Tobacco Research Board established by section three;“Minister” means the Minister of Agriculture or any other Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of this Act;“tobacco” means—(a)unmanufactured flue-cured tobacco;(b)such other classes or types of unmanufactured tobacco as the Minister may declare by statutory instrument to be tobacco for the purposes of this Act;“tobacco research” means—(a)research and investigation work of any kind in connection with tobacco, including research work in connection with insect pests of tobacco, bacterial, fungoid and virus diseases and other pests of tobacco; and(b)engineering experiments in the planting, handling and curing of tobacco; and(c)advice and assistance to any person growing tobacco in relation to the growing and curing of tobacco and in connection with insect pests of tobacco, bacterial, fungoid and virus diseases and other pests of tobacco.

3. Establishment of Board

There is hereby established a board to be known as the Tobacco Research Board, which shall be a body corporate capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name and, subject to this Act, of performing all such acts as a body corporate may by law perform.

4. Functions of Board

The functions of the Board shall be to direct, control and carry out tobacco research within Zimbabwe and, subject to the approval of the Minister, such tobacco research outside Zimbabwe as it considers expedient.

5. Composition of Board

6. Terms of office of members and filling of vacancies

7. Procedure

8. Powers of Board

In the performance of its functions, the Board shall have power to do all or any of the following acts—(a)to appoint and employ such professional, technical and administrative officers, clerks and other employees as it considers necessary;(b)to pay any person in its employ such salary, wages or other remuneration as it thinks fit, and to grant him such leave as it thinks fit;(c)to provide for persons in its employ or their dependants, by means of insurance with an insurance company or a pension or provident fund or in any other manner whatsoever, pecuniary benefits upon retirement, death or termination of service or in the event of sickness or injury;(d)subject to the Audit and Exchequer Act [Chapter 22:03], to raise moneys by way of loan or bank overdraft in such amounts and for such purposes as the Minister may approve;(e)to purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any movable or immovable property and any rights, including patent rights, or privileges which the Board considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of conducting tobacco research;(f)to construct, maintain, alter and improve any buildings, works, machinery and plant necessary or expedient for the purpose of conducting tobacco research;(g)to work or otherwise beneficially use or to exchange, let, sell or hypothecate any of the property, rights or privileges acquired or constructed under paragraph (e) or (f);(h)subject to the Audit and Exchequer Act [Chapter 22:03], to invest and deal with any moneys of the Board not immediately required in such securities and in such manner as it thinks fit and to vary or realize such investments;(i)to issue tobacco seed to persons in or outside Zimbabwe for the purpose of tobacco research;(j)to purchase limited quantities of tobacco which may be required for the purpose of tobacco research from persons in or outside Zimbabwe;(k)to sell any produce of land in its possession;(l)to invite and receive donations from any person towards the expenses of tobacco research and to make donations and grants in such amounts and for such purposes as the Minister may approve;(m)to do all things incidental or conducive to the exercise or enjoyment of the rights, interests and powers conferred and to the performance of the obligations imposed upon it by this Act;(n)to purchase, take on lease or in exchange or otherwise acquire dwelling-houses for occupation by persons in its employ;(o)to purchase land and construct thereon dwelling-houses for occupation by persons in the its employ;(p)to sell or lease dwelling-houses and land for residential purposes to persons in its employ;(q)on such terms and conditions as the Board may, with the approval of the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance, fix—(i)to advance money to persons in its employ for the purchase of dwelling-houses or land for residential purposes, the construction of dwelling-houses, the improvement of dwelling-houses or land which are the property of persons in its employ and the discharge of existing liabilities thereon; and(ii)to guarantee loans made to persons in its employ or their spouses for the purchase of dwelling- houses or land for residential purposes, the construction of dwelling-houses and the improvement of dwelling-houses or land which are the property of persons in its employ or their spouses; and(iii)to provide security in respect of loans such as are described in subparagraph (ii) by the deposit of securities in which the Board is hereby authorized to invest such moneys it considers necessary for the purpose.

9. Executive committee

10. Funds of Board

The funds of the Board shall consist of—(a)all such grants, donations, loans and revenue as may be payable to the Board;(b)such sums as may be paid to it on the direction of the Minister from moneys appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.

11. Accounts, audit and reports

12. Financial year

The financial year of the Board shall be the period of twelve months ending on the 30th June.