Matero Youth Support ‘Pass the Tobacco Control Bill Campaign’

By Ashton Kelly Bunda
CENTRE for Trade Policy and Development, Acting Executive Director Isaiah Mbewe is urging the United Party for National Development (UPND) New Dawn Administration to enact the Tobacco Control Bill (TCB) into law to protect citizens and those resident or passing through Zambia from harms of tobacco.

Speaking at a Saturday 7th December, 2024 CTPD Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CFTK) Road Show at Sililo Grounds in Lusaka\s George Lilkalnda Tounship, Matero Constituency, which begun at Petroda Filling Station on Commonwealth Road, Mr. Mbewe said passage of the TBC into law will save lives.
On his part, Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia (TCCZ) Chairperson Muloboka Albert Phiri echoed the CTPD-CFTK messages lamenting that annually tobacco kills 7, 142 Zambians.
During a road show punctuated by speeches and musical performances by B-Flow, Chanda Na Kay,Wezi Mhone, Guitarist Joshua Mhone, several upcoming artistes and moderated by Victor Chaushi (also known as ‘aka … Kabova), a festive atmosphere was built through a clarion call on nipping smoking in the bud.
The festive season campaign against tobacco yielded immediate results as children and young adults of Matero were seen jostling for event Tee- Shirts and hats branded “Pass the Tobacco Control Bill’ which they considered prestigious and a must have regulatory framework .
Mbewe said despite numerous efforts to ensure a free generation from smoking in Zambia , the process of enacting a law to safeguard the public appears to be under threat as result of interference from Tobacco Industry (TI) at the expense of people’s lives .
Mbewe said deaths from tobacco related illnesses are the most preventable and therefore curbing tobacco related diseases is a primary entry point towards achieving the global goal of ending the scourge .
Mbewe impressed it on the audience in the densely populated township in Matero, the United Nations World Health Organization Framework Convention Tobacco Control (UN-WHO-FCTC) was developed as a global response to globalization of the tobacco epidemic to reduce the rates of uptake and consumption of tobacco to save lives.
Zambia ratified the UN-WHO-FCTC on Friday 23rd may 2008, but yet to have it domesticated though a Monday 23th January 2023 Cabinet Meeting chaired by Dr. Hakainde Sammy Hichilema agreed in principle to do so. Kwilanzi Newspaper Zambia (KNZ)/ Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA).