Zambia needs tobacco control legislation, not nicotine products
Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) Executive Director Brenda Chitindi (second left),18-year-old Khombusto Phiri Jemimah Phiri and 18-year-old youth advocate with Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia (TCCZ) Chairperson Mr. Albert Muloboka Phiri (second right). - Picture by Chapala Chikoyi.
By Chapala Chikoyi
Youth advocates have renewed calls for the urgent enactment of comprehensive tobacco control legislation in Zambia, warning that continued delays expose young people to addiction, disease, and aggressive tobacco industry influence.
During a Friday, 12th December 2025 Press Briefing held at Lusaka’s Longacres Lodge, two 18-year-old youth advocates delivered powerful statements on behalf of the tobacco control movement, emphasizing that Zambia must prioritize public health over industry interests.
A statement authored by Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) Executive Director Brenda Chitindi was read by Jemimah Phiri, an 18-year-old youth advocate.
In her delivery, Phiri firmly rejected the framing of so-called “alternative nicotine products” as solutions, insisting that Zambia needs strong tobacco control legislation—not expanded access to nicotine in any form.
“Nicotine products, regardless of how they are packaged or marketed, continue to harm young people,” the statement emphasized. “Zambia must adopt laws that protect current and future generations from addiction and preventable diseases.”
A second statement was delivered by 18-year-old Khombusto Phiri, highlighting the disproportionate impact of tobacco use on young people and low-income communities.
“The absence of comprehensive tobacco control legislation leaves youths vulnerable to targeted advertising, easy access to tobacco products, and weak enforcement mechanisms,” lamented Phiri within earshot of civil society organizations, public health advocates, and youth leaders, echoing the urgent need for Zambia to align her laws with global best practices under the United Nations World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (UN-WHO-FCTC).
Youth speakers made it clear that they are not merely passive beneficiaries of policy decisions but active stakeholders demanding accountability from policymakers.
As Zambia prepares to introduce the Tobacco Control Bill 2025, youth advocates urged lawmakers to ensure that the legislation is comprehensive, evidence-based, and free from tobacco industry interference.
“Our voices matter because we are the ones who will live with the consequences,” one youth advocate noted. “This law is about our right to health, dignity, and a future free from addiction.”
Ms. Chitindi and Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia (TCCZ) Chairperson Mr. Albert Muloboka Phiri urged Parliament to move swiftly and decisively in passing a strong tobacco control legislation that prioritizes public health and safeguards Zambia’s youth.
Mr. Phiri observed that while tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco operate under strict regulations in countries like the United Kingdom—where laws are moving toward preventing entire generations from accessing cigarettes—they continue to pursue the opposite strategy in Zambia.
“In their home countries, strong legislation protects children,” he noted. “Yet here, tobacco products are sold every 100 metres, even near schools. This double standard must end,” noted Phiri.
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