By Vincent Gunde
Painkiller Social Network has dismissed claims which were made by the Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) that UTM President Dr. Dalitso Kabambe forcibly gained entry into Chinkhoma Auction Floors in Kasungu on Tuesday, 17th June, 2025.
According to the TCC Management concern dated 18th June, 2025 said the TCC noted with regret the conduct by a leader of a certain political party and its members who forcibly gained entry into Chinkhoma Auction Floors on 17th June, 2025 injuring an officer of the floor operator in the process and disrupted tobacco sales.
The statement said the leader and his party members arrived at Chinkhoma Auction Floors without authorization from the TCC as is required for such type of visits reminding all members of the public that access to Tobacco Floors during any selling season is restricted to growers selling their crop on a particular day.
“This is aimed at bringing order to the marketing of the crop,” reads the statement in part from TCC Management.
Reacting on TCC Statement, Painkiller Social Network has described the information as unfounded and misleading saying on 17th June, 2025 Dr. Dalitso Kabambe travelled to Nthungwa for UTM Candle -light Memorial service and as he was passing through Chinkhoma, he stopped to meet and greet farmers.
The Network said Dr. Kabambe arrived at Chinkhoma at exactly 12:05 P.M and when he arrived at the gate, the drama happened, the Security guards blocked him from entering on the claims that the bosses who are government told them to block him from meeting tobacco farmers.
It said in a great shock, Dr. Kabambe was denied entry by Auction Floors officials allegedly acting under political reasons saying this angered tobacco farmers, on-lookers and community leaders, farmers themselves demanded to speak with Kabambe.
The Network said farmers expressed their frustrations over poor prices, late payments for their moneys and government neglect to listen to their cries observing that the crowd welcomed Kabambe with chants and applause, farmers made it clear that they cannot be silenced for low prices offered for their tobacco.
It says there were no MBC coverage at Chinkhoma only Times, Zodiak and other independent radio stations, but it was a great shock to see MBC posting about the incident at Chinkhoma on their face book page presenting it from a misleading angle.
“There was a move to prevent Dr. Kabambe from entering the Auction Floors, but it was rejected by tobacco farmers and Auction Floors workers,” reads Painkiller Social Network report on the wall.
