Bruce Sibanda, Harare, Zimbabwe

TOBACCO auction floors outside premises in Harare have been turned into a flee market of some sort as enterprising businesspeople have set up stalls to lure free spending tobacco farmers who are paid in hard currency.

The black farmers, most of them are earning the American dollar for the first time are having a luxurious life in Harare as they do not hesitate to part with the dollar on anything available.

A majority of black farmers are beneficiaries of the chaotic land reform.

But a few white farmers could be seen driving off after being paid and are ot lured by the traders who have swarmed the auction floors.

Auction floors opened last month and the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association estimates that 45 million kgs of tobacco will be sold this year down from 48 million kgs sold last year.

Information released by the ZTA indicates that tobacco production has decreased in the past 19 years from 133 million kgs in 1990 to 48 million kgs last year

Tobacco is going for between US$2 and US$5 at three auction floors and the farmers are painting the time red and they are paid up to US$1500 cash on the spot.

The balance is deposited on their bank accounts.

Last year farmers spent weeks sleeping in the open hoping to get paid in the worthless Zimbabwean dollar only to be paid using agro-cheques which were not accepted by shops.

However, it is the spot payment that caused black farmers go "mad".

At TSL auction floors electrical gadgets ranging from generators, televisions, DVD, and clothing items are up for grabs.

On Monday, a simple blanket was sold at US$35 but in shops in town they only cost JUST US$12.

Farmers say they do not have time to go into town for shopping.

Said Tafara Musingari of Banket, “What’s the point of getting into town when we can just buy outside the auction floors. We don’t have time for that"

When asked whether he is planning to farming inputs he simple said "that is not a priority, i worked hard for this money i must buy what i want"

AfricaNews.com understands that beer halls at Waterfalls which is close to Boka Auction Floors have become popular with tobacco farmers.

Beer halls are closing late into the night as farmers are paying barmen overtime and hire taxes to take them home.

Traders say business is booming unlike in the previous years when farmers where paid in Zimbabwe currency.