The Tobacco Board of Zambia, TBZ says it has paid over nine million Kwacha to independent tobacco growers who sold Burley tobacco to the board in Eastern Province.
TBZ Chief Executive Officer, Samson Muyembe confirmed this to Breeze News.
Mr. Muyembe says this is out of over 800 metric tonnes of tobacco bought from independent tobacco growers in the Province.
He says TBZ is still paying the farmers but did not mention how much money is remaining to be paid out.
And Mr. Muyembe emphasised that TBZ has stopped buying tobacco from farmers following the closure of the buying period two weeks ago.
He says his office has received reports that some people are alleging that TBZ is still buying tobacco, which is not true.
Mr. Muyembe says farmers should not be cheated that the TBZ is still buying tobacco because there will be no extension of time to the buying period.