Application of Queuing Theory in Mapping out the Potential for an Effective Coordination of Inbound Tobacco Transportation in Developing Country: Harare – Zimbabwe
Itai Zvawanda, Weston Darlington Govere, Benard Chisiri, Lawrence Dhliwayo

Abstract
This research explores opportunities for coordinating and integrating transportation of Tobacco from Small Mediums Farmers (SMF) to Tobacco Auction Floors (TAF) in pursuit of improving efficiency and effectiveness, which is not only beneficiary to Tobacco Auction Floors and carriers as value addition but also alleviates poverty of the farmers. It was established that Tobacco carriers and farmers spent long time of more than a week in the queue waiting to be served. High costs were incurred by both carriers/transporters and farmers as a result of uncoordinated transportation system.The Traffic intensity, denoted ρ is close to 1 indicating traffic congestion was high at the Tobacco Auction Floor.A queuing theory model of coordinating Tobacco inbound logistics was recommended to solve this problem.It includes online booking, use of electronic scheduling, tracking and CCTV at floors and electronic payment. This would also help to preserve the quality of tobacco from bad weather since there are no shades, which is vital important for further processing of it to other finished goods. Finally a private software which run on mobile networks could be ideal if it could be linked with the buying section.

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